the card. Ranjith against the appointment of the new police chief

The local Church accuses Nilantha Jayawardena of failing to act to prevent the 2019 terrorist attacks against three churches. She had received information of the possibility of an attack three weeks before. The archbishop’s message was delivered yesterday during a press conference.

Colombo () – Regarding the appointment of Nilantha Jayawardena as police chief, “the Archbishop of Colombo, Card. Malcolm Ranjith, declares that the current government is undermining the rule of law in Sri Lanka and that the conspiracy that existed after the attack on Easter.” These are the words used by Fr Cyril Gamini Fernando when transmitting the archbishop’s statements during the press conference that took place yesterday at the archiepiscopal palace.

Jayawardena is accused of failing to take the necessary steps to prevent the 2019 Easter attacks on three churches and four hotels, in which more than 250 people were killed and nearly 500 injured. Speculation has grown recently that he will be appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Reading the archbishop’s statement, Fr. Gamini has stressed that the purpose of granting privileges to Jayawardena is to prevent the truth about the attacks from being revealed: “Jayawardena received the first information about the possibility of a terrorist attack through a colleague from the Indian intelligence services on April 4 2019”, three weeks before the day the explosions occurred.

“The Commission of Inquiry considers that the then Deputy Inspector General of Police bears willful responsibility and recommends that the Attorney General consider initiating criminal proceedings against Jayawardena under the provisions of the Penal Code. It is clear that he is responsible for the lives of 270 innocent people,” said Fr Gamini.

According to card. Ranjith, “it is clear that also President Wickremesinghe is committing a shameful act by covering up the facts behind the Easter bombing and protecting the criminals,” said Fr. Cyril Gamini.