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Easter attacks probe: Lanka seeks UK’s help

The Easter Sunday suicide attack carried out by a group of Sri Lankans connected with Islamic terrorist groups on April 21, 2019 killed nearly 270, including 45 foreigners and injured over 500….reports SUSITHA FERNANDO

Sri Lanka’s acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday announced that he will request assistance from the UK to investigate those responsible for the Easter Sunday attack.

Making a special statement, he said that due to the “incomplete nature” of the investigations into the Easter Sunday attack, he is requesting the assistance of the UK government and their intelligence services to probe it.

“The absence of a proper Easter Sunday investigation has meant that this issue has still not been fully resolved,” the Acting President said.

Sri Lanka Easter bombing

The Easter Sunday suicide attack carried out by a group of Sri Lankans connected with Islamic terrorist groups on April 21, 2019 killed nearly 270, including 45 foreigners and injured over 500. The coordinated, almost simultaneous, suicide attacks were carried out at three churches and three hotels.

The Catholic church has accused both former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former PM and present Acting President Wickremesinghe for being responsible for the attacks by not taking action to prevent them despite detailed intelligent information provided by India days prior to the attack.

Meanwhile while awaiting Wednesday’s election of President from the Parliament, Wickremesinghe on Monday declared state of emergency where police and security given special powers in case public unrest and breach of law.

With nearly three months long protests culminating in protesters taking over President’s house, his office, PM’s official house and office and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing the country, leaving it leaderless, Wickremesinghe was appointed the Acting President, as per constitutional provisions.

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Ex-Sri Lanka minister, brother to be detained for 90 days

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and brother Riyadh have been arrested by the CID on April 24 for allegedly assisting the terrorists responsible for the deadly April 2019 bombing attacks….reports Asian Lite News

Former Sri Lankan minister Rishad Bathiyudeen and his brother who were arrested by the country’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) would be detained for 90 days under the stiff anti-terrorism law to conduct further probe into their role in the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, police said.

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and brother Riyadh have been arrested by the CID on April 24 for allegedly assisting the terrorists responsible for the deadly April 2019 bombing attacks.

“They were arrested after the scrutiny of bank accounts, cheque transactions and communication lines,” news reports quoted senior deputy inspector general and the police spokesman Ajith Rohana as saying.

Rohana said the police investigations had focused on the close contacts of the suicide bombers who carried out the attacks at luxury hotels in Colombo and three churches, according to the report.

On April 21, 2019, Sri Lanka was hit by a series of deadly bombings that killed over 250 people, including 40 foreigners, and injured many more.

Also read:Sri Lanka observes anniversary of Easter bombings

The Islamic State terrorist group has claimed the responsibility for the attacks. More than 100 people have been arrested in connection with the bombings.

Sri Lanka on last Wednesday marked the second anniversary of the Easter Sunday bombings with religious ceremonies, as Catholics called for investigations into the attacks to be expedited.

Catholic churches conducted prayer services after two minutes of silence in remembrance of the 271 people killed in the multiple explosions. Other religious groups held similar events.

A multi-religious remembrance service attended by Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim clergy and diplomats was held at the St Anthony’s Catholic shrine in the capital Colombo – one of the targets of the suicide bombings.

Also read:Sri Lanka to stay with AstraZeneca jabs

Heavy security was placed outside churches in Colombo and surrounding areas where the main services were conducted.

Silent protests were held outside churches in some locations demanding speedy investigations into the attacks.

Sri Lanka Easter bombing

“We are not happy about the investigations,” head of the Catholic church in Sri Lanka, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said, adding that the people need answers about who was responsible and the truth about the motives behind the attacks.

A presidential commission appointed to probe the attacks has concluded its investigation, but Ranjith has claimed that the report fails to fully identify those responsible for the bombings, though it pointed to Islamic extremists groups as the perpetrators.

Also read:Highly infectious Covid-19 strain detected in Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka observes anniversary of Easter bombings

The bombings carried out by extremist groups targeted three churches during Easter Sunday services in 2019. Three luxury hotels were also hit in simultaneous attacks on April 21…reports Asian Lite News

Sri Lanka on Wednesday marked the second anniversary of the Easter Sunday bombings with religious ceremonies, as Catholics called for investigations into the attacks to be expedited.

The bombings carried out by extremist groups targeted three churches during Easter Sunday services in 2019. Three luxury hotels were also hit in simultaneous attacks on April 21, DPA reported.

Catholic churches conducted prayer services after two minutes of silence in remembrance of the 271 people killed in the multiple explosions. Other religious groups held similar events.

A multi-religious remembrance service attended by Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim clergy and diplomats was held at the St Anthony’s Catholic shrine in the capital Colombo – one of the targets of the suicide bombings.

Also read:Sri Lanka to stay with AstraZeneca jabs

Heavy security was placed outside churches in Colombo and surrounding areas where the main services were conducted.

Silent protests were held outside churches in some locations demanding speedy investigations into the attacks.

Sri Lanka observes anniversary of Easter bombings(Wikipedia)

“We are not happy about the investigations,” head of the Catholic church in Sri Lanka, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said, adding that the people need answers about who was responsible and the truth about the motives behind the attacks.

A presidential commission appointed to probe the attacks has concluded its investigation, but Ranjith has claimed that the report fails to fully identify those responsible for the bombings, though it pointed to Islamic extremists groups as the perpetrators.

The commission found former president Maithripala Sirisena responsible for security lapses as he failed to take action on advance warnings about the possible attacks.

Also read:Sri Lanka on alert ahead of anniversary of Easter bombings