Easter Sunday attack victim calls on AKD to deliver justice 

• Chandima Niranjali, who lost her family in Katuwapitiya, urges NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to deliver justice to victims and rejects any form of monetary compensation 
• In response, Dissanayake assures a future NPP Govt. will find masterminds behind attack and bring them before the law 
• Expresses gratitude to Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith for his role in preventing further violence following the attacks and slams unfair criticisms against him 

A victim of the devastating Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 has called on National People’s Party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to deliver justice to all those affected under a future NPP Government. 

Chandima Niranjali, who lost her family in the suicide bomb attack at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, made the heartfelt request to Dissanayake during a public meeting with Sri Lankan expatriates in Tsukuba, Japan. 

Dissanayake is touring Japan this week and is set to hold several public gatherings. 

“I am an unfortunate mother who was injured and lost her two daughters and husband in the Easter Sunday attack. I believe the attack was carried out to obtain power. Today is yet another 21st. It marks five years and three months since the attack. The incident was regularly talked of on political platforms back then. But today no one has been punished. I do not want monetary compensation. A mother cannot be pacified with money. I cannot place a value on my children,” Niranjali said addressing Dissanayake. 

In response, Dissanayake said Niranjali’s experience was an emotional and difficult listen. 

He recalled that, following the Easter Sunday attack, he made a statement suggesting the perpetrator could be identified based on who appeared to benefit from the attack. “We had our suspicions when the attack took place,” he said.

He noted that a Parliamentary select committee was later established, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCOI) was appointed, and yet another committee was formed to conduct inquiries. “However, several points remain that must be clarified,” he said.

Recalling the killing of two policemen in Vavunathivu by Easter Sunday attacker Zahran Hashim’s group, Dissanayake stated that if the investigations had been conducted correctly, they would have been linked to Zahran. “However, the investigation was diverted in a planned conspiracy, where former LTTE cadres were blamed. We must find out who derailed these investigations,” he said.

“Next, considering the manner in which we received information: on 7 April, we received information about an attack; on 9 April, we received information about who would carry it out; on 20 April, we received information that the attack would be carried out the next day; and again at 7 a.m. on 21 April, we received information about the locations and times of the attacks. When this information is closely examined, one observes that several key pieces of information necessary to prevent the attack were not received,” the NPP leader noted.

He said the information indicated that it was being sent by someone close to the attack. “But crucial information, such as that they had taken out a house in Panadura to plan the attack, was not received. That was a key piece of information. They also purchased goods needed for the attack from Battaramulla, and this information was not received either. Therefore, we must investigate who provided the information about this attack,” he said.

Thirdly, Dissanayake mentioned that the attacker Abdul Jameel, who was targeting the Taj Samudra Hotel, left without carrying out the attack and instead set it off in Dehiwala. “But before he did so, military intelligence went to Jameel’s house. How did that happen? We must find out,” he said.

He also noted that a person from Matale, identified as ‘Podi Zahran’, had asked ISIS to take responsibility for the attack based on a call he received. “It is important we find this caller,” he said.

Dissanayake also highlighted that Sarah Jasmin, the Katuwapitiya bomber’s wife, was initially declared alive after two DNA tests confirmed she had not died in the explosion in Sainthamaruthu. “It was only in the third DNA test that it was declared she had died,” he noted. He emphasised the importance of finding out how this happened.

“These are not new investigations. There are some unresolved issues in the investigations already carried out,” he noted. He expressed his belief that if these questions can be answered, the mastermind of the attack will be revealed.

“Just as this sister is devastated by the loss of her children and husband, society must also share that grief. If murders can occur to gain power in our country, and if the groups tasked with preventing such attacks become complicit, then our country will never be safe. Time, history, or tears should not be allowed to fade this attack from our memory. I assure you that under an NPP Government, we will uncover the truth about the attack,” he said.

Dissanayake also expressed gratitude to Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith for his role in preventing further violence following the attacks. “Unfortunately, he is being unfairly accused of various things today,” he said. “We will take responsibility for uncovering the masterminds behind the attack. Those involved must be brought to justice,” he noted.