Catholic Church has no intention of defending Ibrahim

By Yohan Perera   

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has no intention of defending Ibrahim whose sons engaged in suicide attacks in Sri Lanka and is accused of proving financial support to Zahran who led the attacks, Spokesman for Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said yesterday.   
“It is obvious that Ibrahim had an involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks and a court case is pending with regard to the matter. He has only been granted bail and has not been acquitted. Therefore the church has no intention defending him. The church does not have to repeat over and over again about him,” Fr. Fernando told a media conference. He said this in relation to questions raised by journalists as to why the church has been silent on Ibrahim who was a member from the NPP national list.   
He also said it was the courts which ordered the release of properties belonging to Ibrahim’s relative.   
Denying reports on social media that the Church had connections with the LTTE, Spokesman for Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Fr. Fernando alleged that photographs that are being circulated are ones that have been developed using artificial intelligence (AI). “I have been depicted in a shirt in that photograph instead of a cassock,” he said. 
The church also denied reports that Cardinal Ranjith had received prior warnings on the Easter Sunday attacks and that was the reason he refrained from holding a Easter Sunday service. “Cardinal held the Easter vigil service on April 20 night at St Lucia’s Cathedral. This was a long service. The Cardinal also held a private mass at the Bishop’s house chapel. It has been alleged that Cardinal’s security team was given prior notice on the attacks. This is far from being the truth as Cardinal was provided with security only after the Easter Sunday attacks.” Fr. Fernando also said.   
Furthermore he said there is a sinister move to arouse religious and communal hatred once again using the Easter Sunday attacks.