Seven years after Sri Lanka’s Easter attacks, Cardinal Ranjith warns of attempts to block justice as new arrests revive calls for accountability.
Newsroom (23/04/2026 Gaudium Press) Seven years after the devastating Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people across Sri Lanka, fresh accusations of obstruction and renewed demands for justice have cast a long shadow over national remembrance ceremonies.
On 21 April 2019, coordinated suicide attacks struck three churches and seven hotels in Colombo, leaving hundreds more wounded and a nation in mourning. Marking the seventh anniversary on April 21 this year, religious leaders, diplomats, and grieving families gathered in solemn tribute—but also in growing frustration over what many see as a stalled search for accountability.
At St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, one of the primary targets of the attacks, Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith led a multi-faith memorial attended by Catholic clergy, Buddhist monks, Muslim and Hindu leaders, and representatives of foreign missions. The gathering reflected both unity in grief and deepening concern over the pace and integrity of ongoing investigations.
The anniversary comes weeks after a significant development: the February 24 arrest of former Security Intelligence Service (SIS) chief Suresh Sallay. Prosecutors allege that Sallay had prior knowledge of the planned attacks but failed to act to prevent them. The arrest has been widely viewed as a breakthrough, but it has also intensified scrutiny of state institutions.
Cardinal Ranjith, while acknowledging what he described as a “new approach” by the current government, voiced strong criticism of individuals he believes are attempting to derail the investigative process. According to the prelate, certain politicians and officials have grown “afraid and nervous,” particularly following revelations aired in a Channel 4 programme that brought new details about the attacks into public view.
He accused these actors of making “childish attempts” to sabotage the investigation, warning that such actions suggest fear of exposure. His remarks underscore a persistent concern that powerful interests may still be shielding those ultimately responsible.
Other religious leaders echoed the call for accountability. Buddhist monk Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thero noted that despite four successive governments since 2019, the “shadow” of the Easter attacks remains unresolved. He emphasized that the current administration now has a critical opportunity to deliver the answers the public has long demanded.
Similarly, Muslim scholar Mawlawi Mashuk Hafeer Usvi urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to fulfill his commitments and reveal the full truth behind the attacks.
Parallel memorials were held at Katuwapitiya, another church devastated in the bombings. Auxiliary Bishops J. D. Anthony Jayakody and Maxwell Silva presided over services alongside parish priest Father Terry Ranjith. Families of victims laid wreaths and lit lamps at a commemorative monument, while an afternoon procession carried portraits of the deceased through the streets—a poignant reminder of lives lost and justice deferred.
For many survivors and relatives, hope persists despite the passage of time. Speaking to AsiaNews, Anura Jayalath and Calistus Perera, both of whom lost loved ones, expressed cautious optimism that the current president will honor his pledge to pursue justice.
Adding to the growing body of scrutiny, a report released on the anniversary by the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), titled Memory, Pain, and the Hope, highlights the fragmented nature of past investigations. According to the report, eight separate inquiries have examined the attacks, yet critical questions remain unanswered.
The CSR suggests that extremist preacher Zahran Hashim and his group may not have acted alone, pointing to the possible involvement of a “hidden hand” behind the coordinated operation. The organization has called for all investigative findings to be made public and for stronger protections for investigators who have faced threats and pressure.
It has also proposed the establishment of an independent commission composed of both local and international experts, with the authority to take swift legal action against those identified as responsible.
As Sri Lanka reflects on one of the darkest days in its recent history, the tension between remembrance and accountability remains unresolved. For victims’ families and religious leaders alike, the passage of seven years has not diminished the urgency of uncovering the full truth—nor the suspicion that it is still being withheld.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
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