Nothing but the truth

The Easter Sunday terrorist attacks on 21 April 2019 are a watershed moment in contemporary Sri Lankan history. The unexpected, callous attacks against purely civilian targets were heinous even by Sri Lankan standards, despite the country being deeply acquainted with three decades of political violence, which often took the form of terrorism. Over 260 civilians, mostly Christians targeted in four churches, died that day while dozens of locals and foreigners were killed in three five-star hotels also targeted.

There is no doubt that the attacks sealed the fate of the already faltering Yahapalana Government. After several years of stalemate, due to infighting and an attempted constitutional coup in October 2018 that further weakened the State structure, the inability to prevent these devastating attacks, even after receiving credible intelligence of the pending atrocity decimated whatever credibility the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe regime had left. Within a week of the attacks, former Defence Secretary and man of the hour Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced his candidacy on a platform of national security at the upcoming Presidential election, and the rest as they say is now history.

Despite being elected on a national security and law and order ticket, nearly two years into his Presidency, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has not delivered either. Despite numerous commissions of inquiry, investigations by law enforcement authorities and a few indictments no one has yet been found accountable in a court of law for the Easter attacks. The whole process has also been undermined by political deal-making and interference. For example, former President Maithripala Sirisena who was at the time also Minister of Defence and Minister in charge of the Police, and all State intelligence services has been given a free pass after he pole-vaulted back into the fold of the Rajapaksa regime.

Even more concerning is the seeming cover-up of information regarding the incident. Many elements of the incident have remained a mystery leading to wide speculation and conspiracy theories. One such loose end is the alleged call made by one of the suicide bombers, supposedly to an individual linked with a State military intelligence agency before he detonated his explosives in Dehiwala. The whereabouts of one of the spouses of the bombers, who is believed to have known about the plot and may have been an informant, is unclear with some Government agencies and personnel claiming she is dead while others have given evidence that she may have escaped to a foreign country with the assistance of a Police officer.

The lack of answers to such fundamental questions about who masterminded the attacks and to what end, has led to understandable frustration within the Catholic community including leaders of the church. Increasingly, Church leaders are at the forefront of the battle for justice over the Easter bombings and all signs are they will not rest until the answers are provided. Worldwide protests are erupting by Sri Lankan diaspora communities. It was recently revealed that Pope Francis had also assured his support for the cause of seeking justice for the victims of the Easter attacks.

For President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was the primary political beneficiary of these attacks and who promised justice for the victims and the truth to all Sri Lankans, the last two years have been an abysmal failure in delivery. The fact that there are many unanswered questions, especially regarding links to State intelligence agencies, leave room for speculation about the true motives of these attacks. It is in the President’s interest to reveal the whole truth concerning these incidents, irrespective of consequences. Only the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth will allow Sri Lanka to put this painful incident to rest, deliver justice for the victims and allow for healing. So, help us God!