A group of Sri Lankan Catholics gathered in Rome over the weekend to bring their concern for justice for victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks to the Vatican.
Pope Francis had written a letter to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo back in January promising to keep a close watch on the situation and to lend whatever help he can for the victims find justice.
The World Organization for Justice organized on Sunday, February 27, a gathering at the Vatican to show support for Cardinal Ranjith who was scheduled to meet the pope.
The cardinal has repeatedly expressed concern over the result of an investigation into the attacks, saying the government “has not fulfilled any of its promises to us.”
An 88-volume report, including the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, have been submitted to the Sri Lankan parliament last week.
On February 15, Cardinal Ranjith said the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka would work with the Vatican to help find justice for the victims.
He earlier expressed dismay over the acquittal of two former security officials who were charged with negligence relating to the bombings.
“There is no trust in the current government and in the attorney general,” said Cardinal Ranjith in a video released by the archdiocese.
“The government hasn’t kept any of its promises to do justice for the Easter attack, so we won’t be able to get the truth from this government,” he added.
“To have the justice we hope for, we must wait for the next government,” said the prelate in Sinhala.
On February 18, Sri Lanka’s High Court dismissed the charges against Pujith Jayasundara, who was Inspector General of Police, and Hemasiri Fernando, who was permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence.
They were accused of failing to act on warnings of an imminent attack given by foreign intelligence agencies.
