-By Investigative Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -29.March.2025, 11.30 PM) It has been years since the devastating Easter Sunday attacks of April 21, 2019, yet justice remains elusive. The coordinated bombings that targeted churches and high-end hotels in Colombo were not just acts of terror—they were a seismic event that reshaped Sri Lanka’s political landscape. But the more time passes, the more the official narrative unravels.
Despite multiple investigations, commissions, and reports, the truth remains buried beneath layers of political maneuvering, bureaucratic incompetence, and deliberate obstruction. This is no longer just a Sri Lankan tragedy—it is an international issue, affecting victims from several countries. The calls for an international investigation have never been louder, and for good reason.
The Easter Sunday massacre was initially framed as a textbook case of Islamic extremism. A group of radicalized individuals, allegedly inspired by global jihadist ideology, carried out the suicide bombings. But the deeper investigators dug, the murkier the picture became.
The Sri Lankan government set up commissions, but their findings were either inconclusive, suppressed, or outright ignored. The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry was supposed to provide clarity, yet it did little more than point fingers in all directions without securing a single high-level conviction. Instead of answers, the investigation process itself became a political game—one where justice was never the priority.
Worse, those who were actually in power at the time—then-President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and key figures in the intelligence and security apparatus—have largely escaped accountability. Sirisena, who ignored repeated intelligence warnings about an imminent attack, was found guilty of negligence but faced only a symbolic fine. The masterminds behind the attack? Still unknown.
The biggest question remains: Was this merely an act of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism, or was there a political hand manipulating these extremists? The theory that the attack was exploited to bring the Rajapaksa family back to power has gained significant traction.
In the aftermath of the attacks, fear and instability swept across Sri Lanka. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a former defense secretary, campaigned on a hardline security platform, promising to eradicate terrorism and restore law and order. The narrative worked—his victory in the 2019 presidential election was swift and decisive. But was the Easter Sunday attack a convenient crisis for his return to power?
Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the head of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, has been one of the most vocal figures demanding an international investigation. His concerns are not baseless. If the attack was not just the work of extremists but was, in some way, facilitated or allowed to happen for political gain, then Sri Lanka’s legal system alone cannot be trusted to uncover the truth.
When justice systems are compromised, external intervention becomes necessary. Victims from multiple countries, including the UK, Denmark, and India, perished in the Easter Sunday attacks. These nations have a right to demand an impartial, independent investigation—one free from the political baggage that has tainted every Sri Lankan probe so far.
An international investigation, possibly led by the United Nations or an independent war crimes tribunal, could do what Sri Lankan authorities have failed to do:
Uncover Political Involvement – If elements within the Sri Lankan government or intelligence services played a role in facilitating the attack, an international probe could expose them.
Determine Foreign Influence – Were there external actors involved? Did Indian intelligence, which allegedly provided warnings, have deeper knowledge? Were there connections to networks beyond Sri Lanka’s borders?
Hold the Real Culprits Accountable – Instead of scapegoating low-level operatives, a thorough investigation could ensure that those who orchestrated, allowed, or benefited from the attacks face real justice.
One of the most troubling aspects of the Easter Sunday attacks is the alleged involvement of factions within Sri Lanka’s own military intelligence.
Some reports suggest that the then-Director of Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General Suresh Saleh, played a role in obstructing investigations. Saleh, a known loyalist of the Rajapaksa family, has been accused of ensuring that key information never reached the public or the courts.
Additionally, whispers of a secretive military intelligence "cult" operating outside the official chain of command—potentially with links to the Rajapaksas—have raised further doubts. Were these extremist attackers merely pawns in a larger power play? If so, this is no longer just a case of terrorism; it is a matter of state-sponsored crime.
Sri Lanka’s current government, led by the left-leaning National People's Power (NPP), has a golden opportunity. Unlike the previous regimes, the NPP has no direct ties to the Easter Sunday massacre. If President [Current President’s Name] wants to prove that his administration is committed to justice, allowing an international investigation would be a logical step.
This would serve two major purposes:
Restoring Trust in the Justice System – The Sri Lankan police, judiciary, and intelligence services are under suspicion. Allowing foreign forensic experts, investigators, and legal teams to operate freely would show that the government is serious about accountability.
Clearing the Innocent and Convicting the Guilty – Many police officers and intelligence personnel have been accused of negligence or complicity. An international investigation could exonerate those who were unfairly implicated while focusing on the real masterminds.
If Sri Lanka fails to allow international oversight, what message does it send? That terrorist attacks can be politically manipulated? That governments can use tragedy as a tool for power? That justice is optional?
The international community must push harder. The Vatican has already signaled its support for an independent probe. European nations with victims in the attack should increase diplomatic pressure. The UN, often slow to act, must realize that this is not just about Sri Lanka—it is about setting a precedent for global justice.
The families of the victims have waited long enough. Every day that passes without real justice is another day that Sri Lanka’s leaders hope the world will forget. But forgetting is not an option.
An international investigation is not just a demand—it is a necessity. If Sri Lanka is to move forward, if its people are to trust their government again, and if the world is to ensure that such tragedies are never politically exploited again, then the truth must be exposed.
Justice delayed is justice denied. It is time to end the delays.
-By Investigative Correspondent
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by (2025-03-29 20:13:24)
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