2019 Easter massacres: another commission, to cover up the truth

More than 3 years after the presentation of the report on the serious responsibilities of intelligence and politicians, President Wickremesinghe has chosen to start from scratch by entrusting a new panel led by a retired judge with a new investigation. The Bishops' Conference: 'What more is there to investigate? Rather explain why those who were responsible continue to be protected'.

Colombo (Asia News) - A new commission of enquiry to investigate the actions and responses of the country's intelligence and security authorities following the alert India received on the eve of the Easter Sunday 2019 attacks. It was appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a further move that the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka denounces as a new delaying move not to get to the truth about the tragic bombings that struck three churches and several hotels causing over 250 deaths.

"The new commission is headed by retired judge A. N. J. de Alwis,' spokesman Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando commented at a press conference held at the archbishop's residence. 'But this is a useless waste of time. The government should simply implement the recommendations made by the previous presidential commission, the one headed by Supreme Court Judge Janak de Silva'. This body - which delivered its report on 1 February 2021 - conducted a thorough investigation into the Easter attacks, highlighting the inability of the intelligence apparatus to act on foreign information and neutralise the growing threat posed by extremist elements.

Fr. Gamini questioned, in particular, the logic behind the decision to entrust the new commission with the review of the conduct of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Chief of National Intelligence (CNI). In fact, in January last year, the Supreme Court had already ordered the heads of these two institutions - Nilantha Jayewardena and Sisira Mendis - to pay compensation of Rs 75 million and Rs 10 million respectively. "What more needs to be investigated?" the Bishops' Conference spokesperson wondered, urging the government to rather implement the recommendations made by the 2021 Commission against politicians and security officials. "The government should rather examine what the successive leaders in the country have done with those recommendations since then."

"The truth,' Fr Gamini Fernando concluded, 'is that almost two years now since the ouster of President Rajapaksa, the situation has remained the same, "But the Church has not given up fighting for justice.