The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate several important topics, especially national security. Ensuring the security of the people and the nation is the responsibility of the present Government. In that context, we continue to speak of the Easter Sunday terror attacks. We acknowledge the attack occurred during the Yahapalanaya Government in 2019. But the information was with the CID, Police, intelligence units of the Armed Forces, and the SIS. The principal allegation is that, despite receiving the information, they failed to investigate properly and prevent the attacks.

¶ 02 Secondly, if you read the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) Report, it is clear and confirmed that certain officers within intelligence units, including SIS, knew and suppressed some of this information.

¶ 03 Further, even today, the CID and this group have failed to reveal to the country who the mastermind is, to enforce the law, and to punish the perpetrators. Therefore, we clearly told the people that justice must be delivered to the victims of the attack. On such promises to the Catholic people, the present Government came to power.

¶ 04 I recall, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith met the current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at Katuwapitiya Church. He came after becoming President, when parliamentary elections had been called. He ascended the altar and pledged to reveal the mastermind before 21 April, saying he had information and would investigate. But today, at the very least, this Government has failed to implement even the PCoI recommendations. That is the truth. Politically, during their campaign, they spoke as much as possible about the Easter attack and made promises. But now they are stalling. Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, told the High Posts Committee that the CID has almost identified the perpetrators and they will be brought to justice very soon. If so, why has progress not been reported to court? Why has material not been filed?

¶ 05 How long will this issue be buried under the sands of time? The President said it would not be allowed to be buried under the sands of time, but is that not what is happening? I have the Minutes of the High Posts Committee which state: “In response to a question raised by Hon. Member of Parliament regarding the progress of investigation into the Easter Sunday attack, Mr. Seneviratne revealed that the Criminal Investigation Department has almost identified the perpetrators. They will be brought to justice very soon.” If identified, why is the law not enforced? Any delay in doing so is a delay in justice.

¶ 06 I have a letter from the National Catholic Committee for Justice to Easter Sunday Attack Victims, previously tabled. It bears the signatures of the Cardinal and priests and raises numerous points, including that an officer above Zaharan was identified, as per evidence by then DIG Ravi Seneviratne to the PCoI (page 7468). He is now a Ministry Secretary. If it cannot be publicized, at least submit to court or the Attorney-General. Nearly 300 were killed, around 5000 injured, and our Catholic churches we revere were bombed.

¶ 07 Why is Mr. Seneviratne hiding this? If the mastermind is known, why is he not produced? They point fingers at our government for the bombing, and the law has been enforced on the President, IGP and others of that time. Why is the law not enforced on the mastermind? What deal exists? As Catholic MPs we have shouted ourselves hoarse in this House for justice. The NPP Government came to power with Catholic votes—remember that. If you insult Catholics like this, think of the fate God will decide for you. You may hide the mastermind today, but you cannot stop divine justice. Whoever the mastermind is, it will be revealed one day. So we urge: if you know who stood behind this, say so without fear.

¶ 08 We also ask about the Rs. 30 million apartment at 27F/US5, Windsor Avenue, Dehiwala, and the links with the institution where his son works. Do not hide the Easter attack. We will fight until justice is done for the victims. Those who gave us information then—like Shani Abeysekara and Ravi Seneviratne—came to our programmes and offices and gave us information about Sonic/Sonik and Abu Hind. But after giving us information, they now hide. If you cannot identify the mastermind even after holding office then and now, where is justice?

¶ 09 This Government always presents lists—so here is the NPP drug list: first, “Sana from Puwakdanda”; second, the principal from Eppawala—husband of the NPP district councillor—caught with one kilogram of drugs; then a university student, Kumar Hewage Thilina; next, Tony, NPP organizer for Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia.