Catholic Church to Officially Reject Accusations Made in Easter Sunday Attack Report

  The Catholic Church is preparing to formally reject the accusations made against two government officials in the Presidential Commission r...

 

The Catholic Church is preparing to formally reject the accusations made against two government officials in the Presidential Commission report on the Easter Sunday attacks, as disclosed by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila. The Church is expected to make an official statement today to clarify its position on both the report and the allegations directed towards His Eminence, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.

Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, stated, "We will come up with an official statement today and reveal our stand on the presidential report and the allegations made against Cardinal Ranjith by Mr. Gammanpila."

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, during a sermon on Sunday, had already dismissed the accusations made against the two state officers mentioned in the report. Speaking at the Hapugoda Church, the Cardinal expressed his displeasure with how the report had been handled.

“A committee was appointed to further look at the report submitted by the Presidential Commission. This committee shrewdly dragged two officers of the present government. This was done to twist the facts. Some persons who were silent for a long time have suddenly started talking about the Easter Sunday attacks. They have become heroes overnight. This is not what we expected,” Cardinal Ranjith remarked.

The Cardinal reiterated the Catholic Church’s commitment to pursuing the truth behind the attacks, saying, “We will not stop talking about the Easter Sunday attacks till we find out who supplied ammunition to the seven Muslim extremists and who trained them on handling explosives. We cannot rest until we find out why prior warnings were neglected.” He also stressed that accountability must be sought for those who ignored these warnings and fled the country.

The Easter Sunday attacks of April 21, 2019, which claimed the lives of over 250 people, including Buddhists and Muslims, continue to be a source of contention and debate. The Church remains steadfast in its demand for full accountability and justice for the victims of the tragedy.