Amidst newer opinions, so called investigation findings as well as changing directions and stances, the public have been perplexed as to the progress or the angle of the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, and there is confusion as to whether the achievements concerning the investigations into the bombings do resemble what the public anticipated, especially after two years of investigations into the attacks.
As The Morning has repeatedly emphasised, what followed the attacks, especially the blame games, appear to be causing more damage to the psyches of those affected by the attacks than the attacks themselves, and the people’s dignity and right to justice and proper closure are thereby challenged.
Speaking on the attacks, Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, who has been vocal since the beginning, on Sunday said that the attacks had a political aspect, and that religious extremism had been used in order to achieve political objectives through the attacks. However, speaking to the media yesterday (19), he said that when he had made that statement, he was not referring to any specific political involvement or influence. Also, he spoke of the political divisions that have plagued Sri Lankan politics over the past few decades, which some believe led to a lack of coordination and cooperation between high ranking members of the former United National Front (UNF) led Government and also the law enforcement agencies under the UNF led Government.
The sentiments expressed by Archbishop Ranjith regarding the political aspect of the attacks have been raised by several political parties previously, especially when referring to the extremely weak cooperation between former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, which was highlighted on many occasions during the investigations into the attacks. To make matters worse, several Muslim politicians were also accused of aiding and abetting the suicide bombers.
The Colombo Archbishop’s comments came after two recent developments concerning the attacks, which is the Government claiming that Naufer Moulavi was the mastermind of the attacks and not Zahran Hashim, and the Ministerial Committee looking into the reports issued by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) investigating the attacks and the Parliament Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security saying that some of the recommendations of the CoI’s final report were not implementable – which raised the public’s eyebrows. Statements he made before and yesterday about the political aspect of the attacks also reinforce two specific doubts the public had since the beginning, which is the attacks were more complex than a mere outcome of the radicalisation of Muslim youths in the country, and that the country is yet to identify certain parties who were part of the attacks, in addition to those already implicated in the attacks, especially through the final report of the CoI investigating the bombings.
However, even though the Colombo Archbishop claimed that he was not referring to any specific political influence, given his position and role, the masses are likely to accept and respect his statements, and believe that his statements were based on concrete facts. Making statements he is not certain about and going back on what he said does not set a very good example, especially in a context where a large number of people look up to him as their religious leader who is fighting to obtain justice.
However, regardless of what the Colombo Archbishop meant by his statement, what has been revealed so far suggests that internal political instability in the previous UNF led Government had indirectly rendered those in high places unable to take action, despite having been forewarned of the attacks not once but several times. This is a fact. However, if there was a greater political influence on the planning and execution of the attacks, then the public needs to and deserves to know what that influence was. It’s been two years. It’s been long enough.Back and forth, back and forth
20 Apr 2021
Back and forth, back and forth
20 Apr 2021
Amidst newer opinions, so called investigation findings as well as changing directions and stances, the public have been perplexed as to the progress or the angle of the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, and there is confusion as to whether the achievements concerning the investigations into the bombings do resemble what the public anticipated, especially after two years of investigations into the attacks.
As The Morning has repeatedly emphasised, what followed the attacks, especially the blame games, appear to be causing more damage to the psyches of those affected by the attacks than the attacks themselves, and the people’s dignity and right to justice and proper closure are thereby challenged.
Speaking on the attacks, Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, who has been vocal since the beginning, on Sunday said that the attacks had a political aspect, and that religious extremism had been used in order to achieve political objectives through the attacks. However, speaking to the media yesterday (19), he said that when he had made that statement, he was not referring to any specific political involvement or influence. Also, he spoke of the political divisions that have plagued Sri Lankan politics over the past few decades, which some believe led to a lack of coordination and cooperation between high ranking members of the former United National Front (UNF) led Government and also the law enforcement agencies under the UNF led Government.
The sentiments expressed by Archbishop Ranjith regarding the political aspect of the attacks have been raised by several political parties previously, especially when referring to the extremely weak cooperation between former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, which was highlighted on many occasions during the investigations into the attacks. To make matters worse, several Muslim politicians were also accused of aiding and abetting the suicide bombers.
The Colombo Archbishop’s comments came after two recent developments concerning the attacks, which is the Government claiming that Naufer Moulavi was the mastermind of the attacks and not Zahran Hashim, and the Ministerial Committee looking into the reports issued by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) investigating the attacks and the Parliament Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security saying that some of the recommendations of the CoI’s final report were not implementable – which raised the public’s eyebrows. Statements he made before and yesterday about the political aspect of the attacks also reinforce two specific doubts the public had since the beginning, which is the attacks were more complex than a mere outcome of the radicalisation of Muslim youths in the country, and that the country is yet to identify certain parties who were part of the attacks, in addition to those already implicated in the attacks, especially through the final report of the CoI investigating the bombings.
However, even though the Colombo Archbishop claimed that he was not referring to any specific political influence, given his position and role, the masses are likely to accept and respect his statements, and believe that his statements were based on concrete facts. Making statements he is not certain about and going back on what he said does not set a very good example, especially in a context where a large number of people look up to him as their religious leader who is fighting to obtain justice.
However, regardless of what the Colombo Archbishop meant by his statement, what has been revealed so far suggests that internal political instability in the previous UNF led Government had indirectly rendered those in high places unable to take action, despite having been forewarned of the attacks not once but several times. This is a fact. However, if there was a greater political influence on the planning and execution of the attacks, then the public needs to and deserves to know what that influence was. It’s been two years. It’s been long enough.Kapruka
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!