All responsible for Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks will be punished, says PM

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Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that all those responsible for the brutal Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks on April 21, 2019 would be brought to justice. He said that the Government has taken all possible measures to prevent such an unfortunate situation from recurring.

The Prime Minister was making a special statement in Parliament yesterday, April 21, regarding the Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks.

The Prime Minister said that the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks and other documents had already been sent to the Attorney General to institute legal action.

“Even though we do not wish to intervene with the judicial process, as a Government we are ready to provide any assistance required for the success of those actions. The President has facilitated the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) to carry out investigations independently. We are confident that the respective departments will take legal action in the future after concluding investigations,” he said.

“Today we commemorate one of the darkest days in the history of Sri Lanka, the Easter Sunday attacks that happened two years ago. We take this moment to remember the locals and foreigners who were killed by the attacks. The Easter bombings took away 259 innocent lives and injured hundreds of people. Hundreds of injured and disabled people are still suffering physically and mentally. I wish them a speedy recovery. We also extend our deepest condolences to the families of all those who died and became disabled,” he also said.

“The innocent people had to pay from their lives and limbs for the criminal neglect and evasion by the previous Government. They mixed up their political agendas with national security. Parties responsible for the attack are spreading various lies, influencing investigations and diverting social attention even to date. We feel sorry for such groups. While remembering all those who died, we as a Government are taking every step to prevent such an unfortunate situation from ever recurring. I would like to state that we will bring to justice all those responsible for this heinous attack,” the PM stated.

The Parliament yesterday observed a minute’s silence to remember the victims of Easter Sunday Terror Attacks. Following the special statement by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the commencement of Parliament, the Prime Minister requested Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to permit a minute of silence in memory of the victims.

The Government and the Opposition Members observed a minute’s silence thereafter.