Although the Government promised to reveal the truth behind the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks within specific timeframes, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) charged that progress in the related investigations remains very slow.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, CBCSL Spokesperson, Rev. Fr. Jude Chrishantha Fernando said the Government including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had repeatedly announced deadlines, including two-week and one-month timelines, but that these had passed without substantial developments. He said that despite a series of assurances, the commitments made to victims and their families had not yet been fulfilled.

He also accused previous Governments of attempting to conceal the truth surrounding the attacks, but said they did not believe the present administration was doing the same. “I don’t think the Government is trying to hide the truth as earlier Governments did. However, they are moving far too slowly. It is unclear whether the delays were due to some party's influence or lack of evidence."

Fernando added that there was no reason for the Government to conceal information, noting that it had the opportunity to handle the matter more effectively than previous administrations. “We have consistently said this. We are still hopeful that the Government will carry out the investigations properly and deliver justice, but the process is slow."

The Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala was not available for comment.

The comments come amid repeated pledges by the National People’s Power (NPP), before, during, and after its election campaigns, to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks and ensure justice for victims and their families. The NPP had criticised previous administrations led by former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe for failing to deliver accountability.

On April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday, coordinated suicide bombings targeted three churches, St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, and Zion Church in Batticaloa, and three luxury hotels in Colombo: Cinnamon Grand Colombo, The Kingsbury, and Shangri-La. Later that day, two further explosions occurred at a residence in Dematagoda and at the Tropical Inn lodge in Dehiwala. More than 270 people, excluding the attackers, were killed in the attacks, including about 45 foreign nationals, while at least 500 others were injured.