Former Member of Parliament Udaya Gammanpila has announced his intention to release the Presidential Commission reports concerning the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, despite the potential legal consequences. Speaking to the media, Gammanpila stated that he would reveal the reports tomorrow, fully aware that doing so could result in a 14-year prison sentence.
“I am prepared to face imprisonment if that is the price for revealing the truth,” he declared, emphasizing his readiness to endure any repercussions for making the information public.
The situation follows a challenge issued by Minister Vijitha Herath, who had given Gammanpila a three-day period to submit the documents to the government if he indeed possessed them. That deadline expired yesterday, adding urgency to the situation and raising questions about the reports’ contents and why they have not yet been disclosed.
The Easter Sunday bombings, which occurred on April 21, 2019, claimed more than 250 lives, including foreign nationals, in a series of coordinated attacks targeting churches and hotels across Sri Lanka. The incident left a lasting impact on the nation, leading to widespread calls for transparency and accountability regarding how intelligence was handled and why the attacks were not prevented.
Gammanpila’s potential disclosure could shed new light on these unresolved questions, but the government appears to be prepared to enforce strict legal measures against the unauthorized release of classified documents. Political analysts suggest that this move could have significant implications for both public trust in the government and the ongoing efforts to ensure justice for the victims.
The public now awaits the release, with many hoping it could bring clarity to the tragic events of 2019 and the extent of any governmental shortcomings. However, it remains to be seen whether Gammanpila will follow through with his promise and, if so, what the government’s response will be.
