'Even after 02 years, authorities have not uncovered the truth'; says Cardinal

Colombo (News 1st); His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the head of Sri Lanka's Catholic Church hit out at authorities for failing to uncover the truth over the 2019 April 21st Attacks.

"It is surprising that even after two years answers to the questions on who and why, have not been found by the relevant authorities," he said on Wednesday (21). Sri Lanka on Wednesday (21) observed two years since the 2019 April 21st Attacks shocked the island nation. "We have to stress that what is happening at the moment is an attitude of no care, where all the factors are not properly investigated in a coordinated and organized fashion," said His Eminence. "We see political reasons behind some of the investigations stalling," he said adding that it is important for the nation to have the answers for these questions as soon as possible. "We need to know who is behind these attacks and what happened," said His Eminence adding that what impedes a transparent process of inquiry into the attacks is political posturing and the need for safeguarding alliances. His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith went on to note that authorities have not been able to uncover who is behind these attacks, despite two years since the tragedy. "It is a clear fact that Zaharan Hashim blasted himself not in a place with one religious group present but in a place where all the people were there. We have to examine why 'he' did not blast himself inside a church but chose to do so inside a hotel killing not only Catholics and Christian but so many others including Muslims and Malays," said the Archbishop of Colombo. "It is clear that all these attacks are not necessarily what they say they are. They are something much more than what they say they are," he stressed. "Understand the global situation in such organized crimes that they are not necessarily in favor of you," he added. His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith speaking to the gathering said when one considers geopolitics, local agents would resort to any form of betrayal for money and power, therefore religious extremism is used as an instrument by them to achieve their objectives. The Archbishop of Colombo went on to note that the struggle for justice will continue until a comprehensive investigation is conducted and those responsible are brought to book and "afterward we will discuss the need to pardon those who have attacked the innocent people."