Lawmakers in the Sri Lanka legislature sat tight without even moving a muscle as firebrand Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa declared that a Probe Committee has no credibility under the present government and he would definitely do everything needed under his government to bring to book the mastermind or masterminds that caused the deaths of more than 250 worshippers in three Christian places of worship in 2019.
Tipped as a leading candidate to become the next President, Premadasa held back nothing as he branded both the past Head of State Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his stop-gap replacement Ranil Wickremasinghe as bluffs.
“I like to tell the government that we have had enough of your (Easter massacre) probes and all you do is come to Parliament and talk nonsense.
“But nobody will be able to stop our quest for justice and we will do everything needed to bring to book the mastermind or masterminds. We will not hoodwink anybody in searching for the truth”, said Premadasa.
He lambasted the country’s Intelligence Services for attempting to cover up the events behind the Easter Sunday bombings which has been a rallying cry that has stood in the way of an independent investigation.
“An intelligence officer in this country tells a terrorist to contact IS (Islamic State terrorists) and tell them to claim responsibility for the bombings to cover up the political plot”, said Premadasa in a reference to ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is alleged to be the mastermind of the bombings that caused instability in the country that he exploited to win a popular vote.
“I am not afraid to die. They tried to kill me at the people’s revolt (to oust Rajapaksa). My father sacrificed his life for this country on the street and I will never strike political deals with past or present Presidents to win votes”, said Premadasa the only son of President Ranasinghe Premadasa who was assassinated by a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber as he was directing a May Day procession in 1993 in downtown Colombo.
Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse gathered himself and stood up at the end of Premadasa’s outburst and gave the Opposition leader an assurance that he too will back his forward march to ensure justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings that killed an estimated 270 people that also included foreign tourists savouring breakfast at two luxury hotels in Colombo
“I wish that no harm will befall you and whatever path you pursue to get at the truth, you will have my support”, Rajapakse told Premadasa.
