Sri Lanka Christians honour Easter victims

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Christians yesterday honoured the 279 people killed in the 2019 Easter bombings as the island’s top Catholic leader warned of protests unless those responsible were prosecuted.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith lit candles at St Anthony’s church where 56 people died when local jihadists carried out coordinated suicide attacks against three hotels and three churches.

The Christian minority in the country attended Easter Sunday masses under tight armed police and military security amid fears of fresh attacks, officials said.

Ranjith renewed his call for swift action against those responsible for the attack and said the then president Maithripala Sirisena should be prosecuted for criminal negligence in failing to prevent it.

A probe ordered by Sirisena after the April 21, 2019 bombings found that he and his intelligence officials had precise information from India about the attack 17 days earlier, but failed to act.

“President Sirisena’s guilt has been identified in the commission report. I ask President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government why they are dragging their feet about prosecuting him. We will take to the streets if no action is taken by April 21,” Ranjith said.

Rajapaksa came to power in November 2019 promising action against those responsible for the 2019 attack. Sirisena, who did not offer himself for reelection, is currently a legislator from Rajapaksa’s SLPP party.

Christians observed a twominute silence from 8.45am when the first of seven bombers struck in the attacks.

AFP PIC People placing flowers in front of a memorial plaque commemorating the people who died in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombing at St Sebastian’s church in Katuwapitiya, Sri Lanka, yesterday.