Cardinal calls for remembrance of Easter Sunday Attack victims from home

• Requests all churches, temples, and places of worship to ring bells commemorating victims at 8.40 am on 21 April
• All to observe 2 minutes silence for the victims
• Commemoration service will be televised, asks all Sri Lankans to join in at home in prayer
• Praises Government for continuing investigations one year on
• Says perpetrators and those who offered them support should be held accountable
• Opines not the time for an election with COVID-19 still not contained, eradicating the virus should be the priority

The Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday said the first year commemoration of the victims of the Easter Sunday Attacks will be low-key and held at home due to the COVID-19

Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith

outbreak, but called on all Sri Lankans to join in praying for those who lost their lives or were injured. Addressing a press conference yesterday, the Archbishop of Colombo called on the faithful and all Sri Lankans to join in commemorating the victims of the Easter Sunday Bombings from home by lighting a lamp or candle in prayer. A televised program is planned to be aired on the 21st morning at 8.45 am, he explained and called on the Government and Sri Lankans to observe two minutes of silence in remembrance of the many victims of the attack. The Cardinal also called on all Buddhist temples and other religious places of worship to join churches island-wide, by sounding their bells at 8.40 am in remembrance of all Sri Lankans and foreign nationals who lost their lives and were injured in the attacks. “I would especially like to thank the Government for continuing a robust investigation into the incident,” he stated, pointing out that a certain group had tried to create a divide between religions by carrying out the bombings and that it is paramount that the perpetrators be found.

Cardinal Ranjith emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to find out those behind the conspiracy and punish them, irrespective of who they are and what post they hold, in order to prevent such an attack which disturbs the peace of the nation from being repeated. “We owe it to the victims, to the dead, to ensure that these investigations are conducted thoroughly by the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) on all perpetrators and those who supported them, to be brought to justice,” he opined. The Archbishop of Colombo also stated that this is not the time to hold an election with many positive cases undergoing treatment and the possibility of it spreading to others ever-present. “We can’t say that we have contained the spread of the virus yet, if we have a long period where there are no new cases identified, then we can conclude that the country may be getting back to normal. Even last night one case was detected, therefore I do not believe that we are able to hold an election at this stage. Elections should not be our priority at this state, overcoming the COVID-19 virus challenge should be the priority,” he said.