Easter Sunday bombings and an austere New Year

The leader of the Catholic Church in Lanka—Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith—while condemning the attack, added “... we have to be very clear about identifying who is behind this whole attempt and avoid falling into the trap of inter-religious violence”. In his message, the Cardinal also referred to the members of the Muslim community as ‘our brothers’. 

The Cardinals’ calming words played a significant role in preventing inter-religious violence in the country. Despite the gravity of the situation, the president, who was on a private visit to Singapore, did not return to the country immediately.

As mentioned earlier, no one has been criminally convicted for the attacks. Meanwhile government has changed hands four times. Each incoming regime has promised to complete investigations and uncover the criminals behind the crime. Persons previously involved in the investigation have alleged that their inquiries were repeatedly sabotaged and obstructed. 

But the country is no closer to knowing the truth than it was in its immediate aftermath of the bombing.

Like all its predecessors, the present National People’s Power (NPP) president and government in the immediate aftermath of its election victory promised to reveal the ‘master minds’ behind to Easter Sunday killings. More than six months after the election of our new president and five months after parliamentary elections, the country still awaits the unmasking of the criminals.

In the first week of March this year, media reported President Dissanayake saying that steps were being taken to reveal the names of a significant number of people responsible for the Easter Sunday attack before the 21st of April this year. April 21st is around the corner, and the country at large still does not have an inkling of the big news our president has referred to.

Lankans normally take promises made by politicians with a pinch of salt. So not many paid much heed when President Dissanayake assured one and all that those who were behind the Easter Sunday bombings would be exposed before 21st April this year.

The leadership of the Catholic Church, however, has taken the president seriously and expressed hope that he would keep his word. Earlier, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith threatened to take to the streets if the government failed to reveal its findings on the Easter Sunday attacks before 21st April this year. 

It was probably in reference to the Cardinals’ threat, President Dissanayake said in Matara that investigations into the Easter Sunday bombings were progressing rapidly and a few individuals were set to be exposed before Easter. We are hopeful, therefore, our young president will keep his word. We do not need the normal round of excuses or blame placed on past regimes for inability to deliver on a promise.

If the president has nothing new to deliver by 21st April, let him be transparent with the electorate and admit failure. People across the ethno-religious divide gave the NPP government a two-thirds majority in parliament because they wanted a change from the past political culture.

On another tack, Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations take place on the 14th and 15th of this month. Our people are facing enormous economic problems. Workers’ wages have not kept pace with rising costs. Rice, our staple food, is still in short supply, despite ministers claiming the Maha harvest has exceeded anticipated production targets.

The reality is that this year too, New Year celebrations will be on an austere note. But people would gladly suffer the difficulties if the government takes them into confidence, admits failures and inability to keep promises.