Sri Lanka’s newly-elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which were carried out by ISIS-backed suicide bombers and resulted in the deaths of 270 people, including 45 foreign nationals, with over 500 others injured.
Following his election victory, Dissanayake met with Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, assuring him that steps would be taken to “uncover the truth” regarding the attacks that targeted churches and hotels across the country.
In June, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe established a Committee of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate the actions of Sri Lankan intelligence agencies, particularly in light of prior warnings received from Indian intelligence about the impending attacks. This decision followed findings from the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry, released on January 31, 2021, which indicated that Indian agencies had provided advance alerts.
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The CoI’s mandate includes assessing whether the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and other relevant authorities acted adequately on the received intelligence. The committee, led by retired High Court judge A.N.J. De Alwis, has been granted full powers to question officials and review important documents related to the Easter Sunday bombings case.
A compact disk containing the Commission’s Final Report has been handed to the committee, with a Senior Assistant Secretary to the President appointed as its Secretary.
During his visit with the Archbishop, Dissanayake was reminded of the significant responsibility entrusted to him by the people to bring about necessary changes in the country, a task that may be challenging. The Cardinal offered his “full support and blessings” to the President, urging him to prioritize the needs of the poor.
On Tuesday, Dissanayake also sought blessings from the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters, following his homage at the ‘Dalada Maligawa,’ the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.