"Until Justice is meted out, We are Watching" Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at th 4th-Year Commemoration of the Easter Sunday Attack - 21st April 2023

The fourth year of commemoration of the Easter Sunday Attack was marked with silent protests and processions today (21^st) in several parts of the island. His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith called upon the public to line up by forming a ‘Human Chain’ on the roadside of the Negombo-Colombo main road from St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya, Negombo to St. Anthony’s Shrine Kochchikade, Colombo 13. and the Galle Road up to Beruwala from 08:30 a.m. to 09:00 a.m. demanding the right to know the truth and justice for the Easter Sunday attacks of 2019 during which 272 people were killed in multiple attacks while over 500 were injured.

Yesterday, families of the victims and other devotees held an overnight vigil marching nearly 40 km distance from Katuwapitiya to Kochchikade starting at 07:00 p.m. after the Holy Mass at St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya.

The commemoration ceremony was held today at the St. Anthony’s Shrine Kochchikade, Colombo 13 after observing two minutes’ silence standing facing the main road with the participation of His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Brian Udaigwe - the Apostolic Nuncio for Sri Lanka, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith - the Archbishop of Colombo, His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Anton Ranjith, Rt. Rev. Dr. Dhushantha Rodrigo - the Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Very Rev. Ebenezer Joseph - the President of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka, Rev. Heshan de Silva - Head of the Methodist Church, Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero - the Chief Thero of Southern Sri Lanka, Rev. Siva Suresh, Moulavi Abdul Rahman Hazen, Mr. Shammil J. Perera - PC Senior Legal Professional, Clergy, High Commissioners, Distinguished Ambassadors from the USA, UK, India, Australia, China, Japan, Switzerland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, France, Netherlands, the EU and the representatives of the Victims of the Easter Sunday Attack.

Rev. Fr. Lalith Perera - the Administrator of St. Anthony’s Shrine Kochchikade delivered the welcome address followed by the lighting of the candles remembering all the departed. Prayers and speeches by Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero, Rev. Siva Suresh, Moulavi Abdul Rahman Hazen, His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Brian Udaigwe, and His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith were held accordingly. In his speech, His Eminence restated his suspicion of a political link to this attack claiming that a nexus between the bombers and State Intelligence Service was apparent. He finally urged all citizens not to allow corrupt politicians to divide and destroy the peace, harmony, and unity among people under any circumstances.

Photos by: Akila Peiris & Rishitha Kavinda

Report by: Waruni Ranasinghe

Media Unit, Aquinas College

21.04.2023