Parliament joins in remembering Easter Sunday terror victims

Friday, 22 April 2022 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

MPs observe minute silence on proposal by Opposition Leader
Sajith pledges truth and justice for families of victims by future SJB Govt.
Govt. says cases filed against 79 suspects with investigations underway against more than 650 others
Govt. and Opposition trade charges during debate to discuss the attacks which left over 270 persons dead and injured hundreds of others

Parliament observed a one-minute silence in remembrance of those killed in the Easter Sunday terror attacks as the country marked three years of the deadly attacks yesterday.

The minute’s silence was observed on a proposal by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. SJB MPs wore black as a sign of mourning for the dead and injured in the attacks.

Premadasa said that the SJB have handed over a written pledge to Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith assuring a full and transparent investigation when it comes to power.

In a letter addressed to the Cardinal, which was released to the media, Premadasa pledged truth and justice for the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks with a new, transparent investigation.

The Opposition Leader said that they would expose the mastermind behind the attack once they come to power and said people did not trust the Government’s handling of the investigation.

Parliament held a day-long debate on the circumstances that led to the attacks and the investigations. Public Security Minister Prasanna Ranatunga gave an update on the investigations into the terrorist attacks saying 735 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the incident and 196 of them are currently in remand custody while 19 are under detention orders. Another 453 persons have been released on bail.

The Minister said action has been taken to file 27 cases against 79 suspects in Gampaha, Kandy, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Nuwara Eliya, Batticaloa High Courts and in special three-member High Courts in Colombo and Kegalle. The accused are facing 25,753 charges.

Government and Opposition lawmakers traded charges during the debate with Government MPs saying the attacks took place during the last administration due to the negligence by those in power.

SJB MPs however said that it is the current Government that exploited the attacks for its political advantage and alleged that they had links to the Zahiran, the man who has been identified as the mastermind behind the attacks.