Second anniversary of Easter Sunday terror attacks marked

The second anniversary of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks was marked in a solemn ceremony amid heavy security at the St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade this morning. 

The ceremony, led by Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith was also attended by Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic religious leaders, as well as foreign diplomats from nations who also lost their citizens during the attacks. Relatives of those who lost their loved ones were also in attendance at the ceremony.  

A two minutes' silence was observed at 8.45am, the time the first suicide bomber struck at St. Anthony's Church. Church bells tolled thereafter and candles and oil lamps were lit in memory of the 269 persons who lost their lives that day and the hundreds who suffered injuries. 

Addressing the ceremony, Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said they are not prepared to aid any organised effort to bury the incident with the passage of time and proclaim those responsible as being innocent. 

Though two years have passed since the atrocity, the Archbishop said it was puzzling that investigation agencies had so far failed to identify who was behind the attacks and what their objective was, the Archbishop stressed. 

He claimed lthe ethargic attitude and politically influenced decision making of the former Government and the current Government had impeded finding out the truth on what happened. 

"It is our belief that what impedes a transparent inquiry into this matter is political posturing and the need for safeguarding alliances," he observed. 

"Even though we are prepared to forgive, we must know what happened, whether those who are responsible repent their actions and if they are worthy of our forgiveness," Cardinal Ranjith stressed. 

Pix by M.A. Pushpakumara