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Catholics in Sri Lanka fly black flags to protest perceived government failure to prosecute over Easter attack

August 24, 2021 Catholic News Agency 0
A policeman stands guard at St. Anthony’s church in Colombo, Aug. 21, 2021, next to a placard and black flags placed in protest for the alleged failure to prosecute those responsible for the bomb attacks of Easter Sunday 2019. Credit: Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images. / null

Colombo, Sri Lanka, Aug 24, 2021 / 10:03 am (CNA).

Catholics in Sri Lanka wore black and hoisted black flags on Saturday to show their indignation over what they see as the government’s failure to respond adequately the 2019 Easter Sunday attack on churches.

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith of Colombo has been urging the government to name those behind the bombings that killed more than 260 people and injured over 500 others.

“The authorities are trying to cover up [the incident] by misusing their power but God doesn’t allow them to hide,” said the cardinal at an Aug. 21 prayer service in Colombo.

The coordinated suicide bombings on three churches, four hotels, and one housing complex on Easter Sunday 2019 took place while Masses and religious services were held.

“We have been waiting for two years for a proper investigation into the bombings, but nothing has happened,” Cyril Gamini Fernando was quoted saying in a report by LiCAS News.

Families of those who perished during the attack hoisted black flags at their homes, churches, and public places as a response to Cardinal Ranjith’s call for a demonstration.

Prayer services were also held but with limited attendance due to restrictions because of the pandemic.

Cardinal Ranjith had earlier called on the people in Sri Lanka to join the demonstrations.

“Raise a black flag on August 21 in front of your homes, institutions and market places as a strong symbol of the silent protest,” said the Catholic prelate during a media briefing Aug. 13.

He said he was not satisfied with the legal action being taken by the authorities against those suspected to be responsible for the Easter bombings.

The cardinal said that he already received a response from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to an earlier letter asking for the “truth” behind the bombings.

He said the president’s response “did not mention any action the government would take and a proper investigation into the serious issues we raised about the attacks.”

In a letter in July, the country’s Catholic leaders criticized the “lethargic pace” of a government inquiry into the terrorist attacks on churches, and questioned why recommendations brought by an official inquiry into the attacks have not yet been acted upon.

The July 12 letter was signed by Cardinal Ranjith, several other bishops, and nearly 30 priests.

“We can never believe that the truth will come out through this ongoing process,” said Cardinal Ranjith during the media briefing, adding that if a committee is to be appointed to implement the recommendations of the government, “there should be a committee involving all political parties.”

“It is clear from this procedure that after such a long time the government has no interest in finding out the truth about the attack and they are going to cover it up and wash their hands,” read a statement from the Archdiocese of Colombo.

“The government took political advantage of the Easter Sunday attack and promised to reveal within a month those who carried out the attack,” read the statement.

“Our country is still not secure and attacks like the one that took place on Easter Sunday are still possible at any time. We can’t allow this culture of killing to continue. The country must learn a lesson from the sacrifices of the innocents killed on Easter Sunday,” it added.

The statement said “the real killers must be identified and the country must know the truth.”

“Politicians do not want to end this culture of killing. Extremism is beneficial to them and they continue their selfish journey through the tears of human suffering,” it added.

Cardinal Ranjith has been pushing for Sri Lankan authorities to be held responsible for failing to prevent the bombings.

In October 2020, five of seven suspects arrested in connection with the attacks were released by the government because of lack of evidence.

The cardinal, however, said security officials had confirmed to him that there was sufficient evidence against many of the suspects who had been arrested.


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Sri Lankan religious leaders condemn extremism two years after Easter bombing

April 21, 2021 Catholic News Agency 0
Ambulances are seen outside the church premises with gathered people and security personnel following a blast at the St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo on April 21, 2019. / ISHARA S. K

CNA Staff, Apr 21, 2021 / 18:00 pm (CNA).

Numerous religious leaders gathered in Sri Lanka to mark the second anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings and to pray for an end to religious extremism. 

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, spoke at St. Anthony’s Shrine, along with Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim leaders. The service included prayers and two minutes of silence in remembrance of the dead.

Ranjith challenged the country’s Muslim communities to reject extremism and help Catholics identify those behind the 2019 bombings, which killed 269 people at two Catholic churches, a protestant church, and three hotels. 

“[B]e brave enough to reject extremism. You fully understand that there is no connection with religion and teachings to murder,” he said, according to the Associated Press. 

“We are surprised that even after two years, answers to the questions of who and why and what of these attacks have not been found by the relevant authorities.”

St. Anthony’s Shrine was the location of the first bomb explosion during Easter Sunday Mass two years ago. The attacks are believed to have been carried out by two local radical Islamist groups who had pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Muslim cleric Hassan Moulan also spoke at the service, the Associated Press reported. He said the Islamic faith does not justify crime and said Mulsims around the world condemned the attack. He added that to distance the suicide bombers who carried out the attacks from the religion of Islam, the the Sri Lanka Muslim community has not permitted their bodies to be buried in its cemeteries. 

Following the bombings, then-President Maithripala Sirisena created a five-person commission to investigate the attacks. The commission’s final report was presented to current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in February 2021.

Rajapaksa then appointed a new six-member committee to study the report but did not share the report with the Church or with the attorney general.

The refusal to release the contents of the report has led to criticism, with fears that corruption or negligence have prevented the prosecution of collaborators in the attack. The study committee is composed only of government ministers who are members of the ruling coalition.

In October 2020, five of seven suspects arrested in connection with the attacks were released by the government, on the stated grounds of lack of evidence.

At that time, Ranjith said security officials had confirmed to him that there was sufficient evidence against many of the suspects who had been arrested. The cardinal, along with friends and family of the victims, have said they fear the release of the suspects meant corruption, or a lack of a thorough investigation, on the part of the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department.


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