• Church to release official statement today

By Yohan Perera   

The Catholic Church is to officially reject the accusations  that have been made against two government officials in the Presidential  Commission report on Easter Sunday attacks, which was revealed by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila yesterday.   

The Church is expected to officially reject yesterday’s  disclosures by Gammanpila and the accusations that were made against  Cardinal Ranjith by making an official statement today.   

 “We will come up with an official statement today and  reveal our stand on the presidential report and the allegations made  against Cardinal Ranjith by Gammanpila,” Director Communications  Archdiocese of Colombo Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando told Daily Mirror.    

However, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith during a sermon on Sunday  already rejected the accusations made against the two state officers.   

“A committee was appointed to further look at the report  submitted by the Presidential Commission. This committee shrewdly  dragged two officers of the present government. This was done to twist  the facts. Some persons who were silent for a long time have suddenly  started talking about the Easter Sunday attacks. They have become heroes  overnight. This is not what we expected,” the Cardinal said during a Sunday  sermon at a church in Hapugoda.   

“Some say that I utter various things at times. We will not  stop talking about the Easter Sunday attacks till we find out as to who  supplied ammunition to the seven Muslim extremists and who trained them  on handling explosives. We cannot rest until we find out as to why prior  warnings were neglected. Also, those who fled abroad ignoring prior  warnings will have to be dealt with as well,” he added.   

He recalled that there were Buddhists and even Muslims among those killed in the Easter Sunday bomb attack on April 21, 2019.