The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 We should pass a motion to take legal action against those who promote racism for political gain and sow discord among communities. Recently, concerted efforts are being made to damage inter-ethnic harmony; please pay special attention.

¶ 02 The President, Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, stated during the 2025 local election campaign that he would reveal the mastermind of the Easter attacks before April 21. Before that date, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake requested two more weeks. Yet, to date, neither the Government, nor the President, nor the Public Security Ministry has revealed the mastermind. This raises public doubts.

¶ 03 Over 250 Christians were killed and more than 500 injured in the Easter attacks. The Muslim community, which has greatly contributed to Sri Lanka’s freedom and unity, also suffered. The leader of Jama’ath-e-Islami, Ash-Sheikh Rasheed Hajjul Akbar, was arrested; Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah was arrested; young writer Ahnaf Jazeem was arrested; many religious leaders and social workers were arrested; MP Rishad Bathiudeen was arrested at night; Dr. Shafi was arrested unjustly. Security forces and racists even entered mosques with dogs, insulting the Holy Qur’an and Hadith texts. The Muslim community utterly condemned the Easter attacks. But some racists used the tragedy to link the entire Muslim community to it, dividing long-coexisting Catholics, Christians, and Sinhalese.

¶ 04 After the attacks, discrimination and marginalization against Muslims spread from state to society. When JVP insurgents were shot dead, bodies were handed over to families; when LTTE cadres were killed, bodies were handed over. But Islamic scholars, through the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, publicly requested that no one accept the bodies of the Easter suicide bombers for burial, and the Muslim community complied. We must remember that.

¶ 05 Former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe did not bring the masterminds to justice. During the 2024 presidential election, the NPP pledged to find and prosecute the masterminds. The entire country expects truth, justice for victims, and punishment for those behind it. Ven. Gnanasara Thero claims he knows the mastermind and will reveal it if the President invites him. Five commissions of inquiry have been appointed, but reports have not been fully disclosed, causing public suspicion.

¶ 06 We urge this Government to conduct a fair investigation into the background and bring the masterminds before the law. The Government must also take legal action against individuals like Udaya Gammanpila—who publishes books distorting and derailing independent investigations—and Sarath Weerasekera, who spews racism, as they push the Muslim community back into a racist climate. A book launch titled “In Search of the Easter Sunday Mastermind” was held in Colombo, attended by former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and political leaders including Hon. Sajith Premadasa. I urge Hon. Sajith Premadasa, who received significant Tamil and Muslim support in the North and East in two presidential elections, to act with sensitivity to their sentiments.

¶ 07 Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has consistently pressed for justice. Seven years have passed; successive governments have not conducted proper investigations. The Cardinal has even appealed to the UNHRC for an international inquiry. We ask the present Government to conduct a just investigation into the Easter attacks and bring all responsible to justice. Thank you.