Easter attack on Sri Lanka
There has been a lot of renewed discussion regarding the suicide bombing that killed 269 people in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019. This event has garnered high levels of attention in many countries worldwide.
The discussion has resurfaced due to a controversial statement made by former President Maithripala Sirisena, which has reignited debates surrounding the Easter attack that occurred 5 years ago.
Bombing perpetrator unknown
Numerous investigations into the series of attacks have been conducted over the years. These investigations have involved various commissions, judicial proceedings, police investigations, and other legal proceedings. Some of these legal proceedings are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, former President Maithripala Sirisena has made an emergency statement. He claimed to know who was behind the Easter attack. While the location of the Easter attack is known, the identity of the attacker(s) remains unknown.
However, Sirisena has offered to reveal the identity of the perpetrator(s) if requested by the court. He also emphasised that the information should be kept confidential and that it is the responsibility of the judges to do so.
In a few minutes, the whole country was worried
After making a statement, the media immediately reported it as breaking news. However, this brought attention to the fact that the information had been known for some time, and people began to question why it had taken so long to be revealed.
The next day, Maithripala Sirisena appeared before the media and claimed that he had received the information from a reliable source several weeks earlier.
Maithripala to CID
The Public Security Minister, Tiran Alas, has instructed the Inspector General of Police to launch an immediate investigation into former President Maithripala Sirisena’s statements.
The Inspector General of Police, Deshabandu Tennekoon, has taken action and ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to prepare quickly for the investigation.
Consequently, Maithripala Sirisena was required to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department and provide a statement. He spent over five hours, from 10.30 am to 3.50 pm on March 25, at the Criminal Investigation Department to give a detailed statement.
Arrest Maithri
The Director of Communications of the Archdiocese, Reverend Jude Crisantha Fernando, has raised concerns about why information about the perpetrators of the Easter attacks was not revealed during investigations and trials. He questions why the truth was concealed.
It has come to light that former president Maithripala Sirisena was ordered to pay 100 million rupees on behalf of the victims’ families, but this was not disclosed during the trial. Sirisena denied knowing about the attack, but the Easter Commission reports suggest otherwise.
Reverend Jude Crisantha Fernando believes this undermines the country’s judiciary and presidential commissions and conceals the truth. He indicates that Sirisena should be arrested, detained and questioned.
If found guilty, a trial should be held, and punishment should be given. Numerous other parties have also called for Sirisena’s immediate arrest as a suspect for knowing the facts about the Easter attack and concealing them.
IGP says arrest cannot be made on statement
The Inspector General of Police, Deshabandu Tennekoon, believes that Maithripala Sirisena cannot be arrested solely based on information broadcast through the media.
He emphasised that such requests cannot be considered and that an arrest or related legal action can only occur if any issues arise at the end of the related investigation. However, the Inspector General of Police assured that if Maithripala Sirisena needs to be given special security after this disclosure, it can be provided.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act
Under Sri Lankan law, concealing information or evidence of a crime is a serious offence. Lawyers emphasise that concealing information related to an incident like the Easter attack is particularly serious. The Penal Code and the Prevention of Terrorism Act treat such behaviour as a severe criminal offence.
It is important to note that concealing information is not possible under the current law in Sri Lanka. Lawyers point out that concealing information like the Easter attack is not trivial, like the theft of sugar balls.
It was a great tragedy, and the president, acting as the country’s first citizen, should be held responsible for it. Therefore, if the president had hidden this serious information, it would have been a crime that should have been punished.
In this incident, former Inspector General of Police Pujitha Jayasundara, former Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Hemasiri Fernando, and others were arrested and remanded in custody. They were later released, and lawyers pointed out that many had to suffer in prison due to the lack of accurate information and evidence.
