Not taking proper steps to rectify damage is tantamount to allowing that damage to keep causing more and more damage, and by now, two years after the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, Sri Lanka should have understood that concluding the investigations into the attacks is not the priority or the solution. The top priority should be identifying the culprits behind the scenes, i.e. those who aided and abetted the suicide bombers to carry out the bombings, and those who spread extremism and turned vulnerable youth into suicide bombers.
The alleged questionable nature of the investigations and inquiries into the Easter Sunday attacks has been pointed out on many an occasion, especially after the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the attacks was released. Much of the controversy surrounding the report was based on the fact that the report focused on those who carried out the attacks and those who had been derelict in their duties, not those who were behind it.
Allegations were also levelled by many parties that certain powerful people were protecting the remaining extremist groups and were hindering investigations, thereby raising concerns about the transparency of the investigations.
The issue came to light recently when the Minister of Public Security Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekera stated that Naufer Moulavi, the alleged theoretician of the now-defunct National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ), has been identified by the Government as the true mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks. He made this statement at a media briefing on the final report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to study the PCoI report of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security.
In order to support this claim, the Minister also said that Naufer had commenced his extremist activities in 2014, two years before Zahran Hashim became involved in extremist activities. However, Naufer having begun his extremist activities two years before Zahran did, does not appear to be evidence strong enough to come to a conclusion regarding an incident of this nature and magnitude, and as to what factors led to this conclusion and what factors proved that Zahran was not the mastermind have not been revealed.
Regardless, the supposition that Zahran was the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks has now been officially rejected, and all future actions, including legal actions, in connection with the attacks are likely to be based on the belief that Zahran was not the true mastermind. In this context, it is common understanding that such conclusions should be supported by more concrete evidence.
Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera also raised related concerns recently, and said that every single person implicated in the PCoI’s final report must be brought to book. He said that Buddhists also understand the pain of being terrorised in their place of worship, referring to the terror attacks on Buddhist temples including the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic). The “Black Sunday” protest staged last month is indicative of the fact that the country’s Catholic community, led mainly by Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, is also unhappy about the authorities’ course of action concerning the attacks.
In fact, apart from the Government and forces backing the Government, only a handful of persons have expressed approval of the investigations into the attacks and the PCoI’s final report. The aforesaid incidents and statements were merely examples of the mounting uncertainty among the public with regard to the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. Over the past two years, following the attacks, politicians, activists, the families of those who died in the attacks, as well as religious leaders of almost all religions have pointed out the alleged inadequacies in the investigations and how it may continue the pain and destruction suffered by the country.
Even though the public may not be in a position to advise the Government or the law enforcement authorities on how to conduct the investigations, they have every right to voice their concerns, and the Government has a responsibility to listen to it; not only to prevent another attack, but also to heal the invisible wounds of those who survived the attack.Easter patience running out
08 Apr 2021
Easter patience running out
08 Apr 2021
Not taking proper steps to rectify damage is tantamount to allowing that damage to keep causing more and more damage, and by now, two years after the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, Sri Lanka should have understood that concluding the investigations into the attacks is not the priority or the solution. The top priority should be identifying the culprits behind the scenes, i.e. those who aided and abetted the suicide bombers to carry out the bombings, and those who spread extremism and turned vulnerable youth into suicide bombers.
The alleged questionable nature of the investigations and inquiries into the Easter Sunday attacks has been pointed out on many an occasion, especially after the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the attacks was released. Much of the controversy surrounding the report was based on the fact that the report focused on those who carried out the attacks and those who had been derelict in their duties, not those who were behind it.
Allegations were also levelled by many parties that certain powerful people were protecting the remaining extremist groups and were hindering investigations, thereby raising concerns about the transparency of the investigations.
The issue came to light recently when the Minister of Public Security Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekera stated that Naufer Moulavi, the alleged theoretician of the now-defunct National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ), has been identified by the Government as the true mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks. He made this statement at a media briefing on the final report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to study the PCoI report of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security.
In order to support this claim, the Minister also said that Naufer had commenced his extremist activities in 2014, two years before Zahran Hashim became involved in extremist activities. However, Naufer having begun his extremist activities two years before Zahran did, does not appear to be evidence strong enough to come to a conclusion regarding an incident of this nature and magnitude, and as to what factors led to this conclusion and what factors proved that Zahran was not the mastermind have not been revealed.
Regardless, the supposition that Zahran was the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks has now been officially rejected, and all future actions, including legal actions, in connection with the attacks are likely to be based on the belief that Zahran was not the true mastermind. In this context, it is common understanding that such conclusions should be supported by more concrete evidence.
Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera also raised related concerns recently, and said that every single person implicated in the PCoI’s final report must be brought to book. He said that Buddhists also understand the pain of being terrorised in their place of worship, referring to the terror attacks on Buddhist temples including the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic). The “Black Sunday” protest staged last month is indicative of the fact that the country’s Catholic community, led mainly by Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, is also unhappy about the authorities’ course of action concerning the attacks.
In fact, apart from the Government and forces backing the Government, only a handful of persons have expressed approval of the investigations into the attacks and the PCoI’s final report. The aforesaid incidents and statements were merely examples of the mounting uncertainty among the public with regard to the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. Over the past two years, following the attacks, politicians, activists, the families of those who died in the attacks, as well as religious leaders of almost all religions have pointed out the alleged inadequacies in the investigations and how it may continue the pain and destruction suffered by the country.
Even though the public may not be in a position to advise the Government or the law enforcement authorities on how to conduct the investigations, they have every right to voice their concerns, and the Government has a responsibility to listen to it; not only to prevent another attack, but also to heal the invisible wounds of those who survived the attack.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!