Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Ratnayake has declared that within two more years, Sri Lanka’s most controversial crimes, including the Thajudeen murder, Easter Sunday attacks, and Central Bank bond scam, will see justice delivered, warning that former rulers who once escaped accountability will finally face the law.
Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Ratnayake has assured the public that Sri Lanka is on a steady path toward justice, declaring that within two years, long-suppressed crimes will be addressed and those responsible will face the law. Speaking to the media in Anuradhapura after attending a public ceremony, the Minister highlighted the need for a thorough and deliberate process rather than hurried decisions.
Ratnayake criticized past governments for systematically covering up crimes committed during their rule, ranging from the 2012 murder of rugby star Wasim Thajudeen, the 2015 Central Bank bond fraud, to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. He emphasized that these crimes were not committed by ordinary citizens but by individuals who wielded political power, and that they were deliberately buried to protect ruling elites.
Drawing parallels with international judicial views, Ratnayake remarked that justice cannot be rushed like a “twenty-twenty match” or a “100-meter sprint.” Instead, he stressed the importance of building a credible process that ensures both fairness and accountability. He pointed out that even individuals once perceived to be above the law, such as Ranil Wickremesinghe, have faced judicial scrutiny in Sri Lanka, proving that no one is untouchable.
Referencing President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent speech at the United Nations, Ratnayake reminded the nation that Sri Lanka is being reshaped as a law-abiding country where impunity will no longer be tolerated. “Sixty months were promised, twelve have passed, and 48 remain. I can say with confidence that by the halfway mark of those 48 months, many who thought they were untouchable will be behind bars,” he warned.
The Minister’s remarks underline a shift in political accountability, as the current administration seeks to undo years of impunity. For victims’ families and citizens disillusioned by decades of cover-ups, Ratnayake’s promise offers a glimpse of hope that justice delayed may finally no longer be justice denied.
