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Easter Sunday attacks, the massacre that still demands justice
As Christians celebrate one of their most sacred religious events today, Sri Lanka still awaits justice for the 270 killed and the 500 injured, after the passage of seven years, in one of the most heinous atrocities carried out in the country against innocent people at prayer. The attack, carried out at several places of Christian religious worship, including the St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, the Zion Church in Batticaloa, and luxury hotels in Colombo, saw responsibility being claimed by an ISIS-linked local group of extremists under the leadership of Zahran Hashim. A trial opened against 25 persons accused of masterminding the attack, charged with an unprecedented 23,000 counts, reached new heights as information revealed a connection between the group and the country’s intelligence arm, in a bid to secure the presidency for former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a claim he has continued to deny. The Supreme Court has since found the then-President Maithripala Sirisena guilty of “ignoring actionable intelligence” and subsequently made him pay compensation to the victims. The NPP Government made the provision of justice to the victims a priority in its election pledges, alleging that the attack was a “conspiracy by a certain group”, following reported claims by the British-based Channel 4 that there was a link between the military apparatus and the group which carried out the attack, with the knowledge of the then Government. The NPP Government’s newly opened investigations into the allegations saw it reach a critical juncture with the arrest of former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Retired Major General Suresh Sallay, on 25 February. Currently detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Sallay previously also served as the Head of the Army’s Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI). Named the third suspect in the case, he faces allegations including conspiracy, aiding, and abetting in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks. Taken up for hearing on 26 March, Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara ordered the CID to produce Sallay in Court on 22 April. The Court heard that Sallay had directed a group of Muslims to one witness and instructed him to provide them with information regarding mosques in the area. The CID informed the Court that this situation was likely to have the effect of intimidating and influencing the witness. The investigating officers added that the group, alle...
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says justice for the victims of ...
14 hours ago ... Sri Lanka Terror Attack (21/04/2019): A series of eight devastating bomb blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka ...
7 years since the Easter Sunday Attacks. Three governments later ...
15 hours ago ... ... in Sri Lanka following the Easter Sunday terror attacks. In a letter seen by ... Easter Sunday Attacks Justice Investigation. Russell N Rochelle ...
Easter Sunday 2019 To IRIS Dena 2026: Weaponization Of Religion ...
The Easter Sunday 2019 attacks in Sri Lanka killed over 250 people of many nationalities and injured many more. Last month's sinking of the IRIS Dena in the seas of Sri Lanka killed 84 Iranian sailors and caused environmental damage. Messages to China and Iran: US owns the Indian Ocean?
