22 January 2021 04:43 pm
Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith raised concerns at Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara on the release of 10 workers of the copper factory, owned by Cinnamon Grand Hotel suicide bomber Inshaf Ahamed.
Cardinal Ranjith expressed this when he summoned Minister Sarath Weerasekara to the Archbishop’s House on Wednesday (20).
Sources confirming this to the Daily Mirror said Cardinal Ranjith had raised questions about the transparency behind the release of these workers and expressed concern on what basis the order to release these workers has been made.
His Eminence also raised the fact that there had been no clear prosecution of any suspect connected to Easter Sunday attacks, despite 21 months have gone past, and in such a backdrop, the release of these workers causes greater concern to the Catholic community on the whole.
Thus, the Archbishop has requested the Minister to conduct an inquiry to ascertain as to how the evidence against these suspects were manipulated during the probe.
In response, Minister Weeraseka informed Cardinal Ranjith that it was the court that ordered the release of these suspects on the instructions of the Attorney General.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya on Tuesday (19) ordered the release of the 10 suspects, who were employees at the copper factory in Wellampitiya. (Sheain Fernandopulle)