The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today’s debate concerns the Easter bombings. The entire Muslim community was branded as terrorists. They are pointing to a person from the Eastern Province as the mastermind. These coordinated Easter bombings in many parts of the country served to distance the Muslim community from other ethnic groups in this country. Why was such an attack carried out? Everyone who spoke here has made clear that it was to show something politically, not for any other reason, and it did not spare lives.

¶ 02 We saw at a recent book launch that they openly claimed the mastermind is among us. We humbly ask the Government not to delay by saying cases are pending. The purpose for which the entire Muslim community voted for you was to obtain justice for the victims wronged by the previous Government’s actions against Muslims due to this attack.

¶ 03 The Hon. President promised, “With a single signature we will find the mastermind of the Easter bombings and mete out punishment.” You used this issue to win three elections – the presidential, the general, and the local authority elections. Even after the President said in March 2025 he would reveal the mastermind, you have not done it. Now you say the matter is sub judice and tell us not to pressure you when we demand action. I say this because it is the Muslim community that was comprehensively affected.

¶ 04 They tried to unjustly connect our National Leader, Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, to the incident and portray him as fully responsible. Today the person arrested as the mastermind is Suresh Sallay! He claims he cannot bear mosquito and rat infestations and cannot remain in prison. Yet, on the pretext of the Easter attack, the then Government deliberately arrested more than 500 Muslims – scholars, youths, women – even those not involved in politics. How could the rulers have had the heart to do such injustice?

¶ 05 It was Muslims who were most affected. In that period, our Muslim people could not even keep the Holy Qur’an in their homes. They could not keep kitchen knives for cutting vegetables, or books with Arabic script, or Hadith texts. Our girls could not wear cultural attire to school or public places. The current Government promised to find and reveal the mastermind but is dragging its feet. Therefore, I request that you proceed urgently.