Probe on Easter Sunday bombing of 2019: You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours

By Rev. Asiri P. Perera

The news has been flashed in the media that former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujitha Jayasundera who were charged with 852 charges on the Easter Sunday bombing of 2019 have been acquitted by the special court instituted to hear the case.

The two positions they held had invested a bounden duty to protect every citizen (not only VIPs) of this country. Were they faithful in discharging the same when they failed to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings?

As a law abiding, responsible citizen, I know that I have no right to criticise the decision and judgement delivered by a court of law and I shall abide by the same. The comment made by the Presiding Judge that “this decision will not please all parties” is worth taking note. 

I identify myself as a person who is aggrieved and hurt together with all those who suffered due to the Easter Sunday bombings. This expression of my sentiments is not on the judgement but on the manner in which the investigations were handled and charges were framed which have led to what we received as a verdict.

All in all, I am convinced beyond doubt that those who were responsible to investigate have performed meticulously a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”, and looked after very well each other’s safety at the expense and pain of the victims of Easter Sunday bombings.

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith together with the victims and their families have repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction on the investigative process that was being implemented. Definitely names and evidence have been swept under the carpet. 

The daring nudity of those who were responsible to investigate and make charges against the persons who did not prevent the attack is now open and visible to the public. In the face of such nudity, where can we now turn to seek justice?

(The writer is a retired President Bishop of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka.)