The main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) raised concerns about the Government’s steps aimed at serving justice for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings, noting that the Government must focus on steps that are actually effective and are in line with the related promises that the Government has given.

SJB Parliamentarian Nalin Bandara Jayamaha made these remarks during a press briefing held yesterday (17) in Colombo.

“Those responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks should be brought to book,” he said, adding that although a number of parties including the public trusted the present administration to serve justice for the victims of the attacks, the Government must fulfil their promise.

Jayamaha also expressed concerns about the arrest of politician Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan. He added that he was, in reality, arrested over a murder although the Government had allegedly attempted to show that his arrest was a move related to the Easter Sunday attacks. 

Further, Jayamaha highlighted that the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA), which was used to detain Pillayan, is a law that the Government promised to repeal. Adding that Pillayan should be penalised if he has committed any offence, he added that laws other than the PTA could have been employed to achieve that.