In a strongly worded rebuke delivered during a church service, Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith accused the government of reneging on its promises to investigate the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, saying not even a basic program has been set up to pursue justice.
The Cardinal singled out the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition also known as the “Compass” for failing to honor commitments made in its policy statement to establish a special prosecutor and a dedicated office to guide forensic investigations into the deadly attacks. More than six years have passed, he said, and victims and their families are still waiting for answers.
“No matter how much we talk about that terrible day, it seems like the story will never end,” the Archbishop lamented. “To this day, we do not know who the real masterminds behind the attacks are. Despite all efforts, we are no closer to the truth. Dragging this on for six years is an insult to the lives that were lost.”
He further criticized the lack of follow-through on the more than 200 recommendations outlined in the first volume of the Supreme Commission Report. According to him, neither political leaders nor law enforcement have taken meaningful steps to implement the report’s findings.
In a particularly scathing remark, Cardinal Ranjith pointed to the inaction of the Attorney General’s Department, which, he said, has failed to take disciplinary or legal action against key figures including the former President, Prime Minister, and top security officials who had prior knowledge of the attacks but failed to act.
“It is a national shame that nothing has been done,” he declared. “This shows how deeply certain institutions are willing to serve political masters instead of justice.”
The Cardinal recalled that during the election season, victims were given solemn promises especially the pledge to create an empowered office to lead forensic investigations and prosecutions. “That promise has vanished into thin air,” he said. “Not only has it not been fulfilled there isn’t even a skeleton of a plan in place.”
His words underscore growing frustration among Sri Lanka’s Catholic community, who feel betrayed by successive governments that pledged accountability but delivered silence. The Archbishop’s remarks now place further moral pressure on the current administration to stop stalling and start acting.
