Both the ruling party and the Opposition knew about the incident

27 cases have been filed against 79 persons under 25,653 charges

The souls of over 250 civilians who sacrificed their lives to the deadly Easter Sunday bombings back in April 2019 still await justice to Rest In Peace. ‘Katuwapitiye paalu paaraka’ (On a Lonely Road in Katuwapitiya) a poem penned by Dr. Nandasiri Keembiyahetti, aptly portrays the tragedy of the Easter Sunday carnage. The poem, translated by Dr. Madhubhashini Disanayaka Ratnayake reads as follows;

I go delivering mail
Every day, on the same route set
Search for the recipient 
Of a letter, undelivered yet.
On a lonely road in Katuwapitiya 
Is a house shut up with boards,
As usual I ring the bell, 
And write on the envelope, ‘closed’.
Then I think, how not to deliver .
A thrice-arrived letter
Giving admittance to a school 
For you - in town, bigger, better. 
Under the wreath’s rusty wires, 
Part of a name does appear
Have a look when you wake up, daughter,
I will leave the letter here

Days after the attack, the incumbent President announced that he would contest for Presidency and establish national security. Three years later, a government that harped on national security has failed to punish the perpetrators who executed the attacks and serve justice to victims and survivors. 

In its memorial feature to mark the third year remembrance of the attacks, the Daily Mirror spoke to families of victims and survivors who have just one hope in mind; justice. 

Wedlocked -Rebecca and Kaushikan

 

Easter Sunday survivor ties the knot

Rebecca Arasaratnam suffered third-degree burns during the attack on Zion Church, Batticaloa. She lost her sister, brother-in-law and nephew. But today she is happily married to Sridharan Kaushikan and they are now settled in Jaffna. This is their story.

QHow did you meet each other?
Kaushikan: I met her after the Easter Sunday incident in June last year. In fact I saw her testimonials on YouTube and other social media platforms and I wanted to get in touch with her. Thereafter I was chatting with her on Facebook. After sometime we fell in love and I proposed to her. 

Q   As a survivor, how do you feel today after everything that you went through?
Rebecca: I know that God is with us. I placed my trust in God. Today, I’m happily married and I’m happy about how everything turned out to be. 

QDo you still take treatment?
Rebecca: Yes. I still can’t fold my fingers in the left arm.
Kaushikan: Even though she has treatments including a surgery to her face I have discouraged her from going ahead. She is beautiful the way she is. 

QThe incumbent government promised to serve justice to victims of the attack. But three years later they still haven’t punished the perpetrators. What do you have to say about that?
Rebecca: We have been taught to love and forgive. That is God’s lesson to us. God has taught us to love one another. But one thing is certain; that God is with the victims as well as the survivors. 

QAlthough yours is a rare story many others are grieving the loss of their loved ones. What is your message to them?
Rebecca: Romans Chapter 8 Verse 28 states the following: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. They should place their trust in God because wherever they are, God is with them. We need to accept everything with happiness and we need to be a role model for everyone.

Protest marches, performance art in memoriam 
On April 9 a protest march was organised from the Katuwapitiya Mass Grave towards the St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade. Families of victims and survivors of the Katuwapitiya and Kochchikade attacks participated, demanding justice for themselves as well as to punish perpetrators. Towards the end of the march, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith met with the crowd as they reached the Kochchikade St. Anthony’s Shrine.


“The entire country is demanding justice” – Gamage 
“For three years we demanded justice for our children, brothers, sisters and relatives,” said Shehan Malaka Gamage. “We sought refuge from God. He tested us initially. We questioned where He was. We still ask where He was on that day. But today, He is speaking to us. He told us that even though over 260 people died in the carnage, an entire country has risen from their sacrifice. The entire country is demanding justice. Let’s hope that God serves justice to the tears we shed then, today and in future. We have a common cause to go in search of justice,” said Gamage. 

Their souls are hunting perpetrators. This is why we decided to walk 40 kilometres. As a sportsman I have that courage and there is no political motive in this protest march 

“Even after three years those who sacrificed their lives still cannot Rest In Peace,” opined former cricketer Dhammika Prasad. “Their souls are hunting perpetrators. This is why we decided to walk 40 kilometres. As a sportsman I have that courage and there is no political motive in this protest march. A country that has ended a thirty year conflict should be equipped with a good intelligence service. Therefore we hope that justice will be served sooner,” said Prasad. 


“There is politics involved in this carnage” – Silva

There is politics involved in this carnage. We blame the incumbent President for this inhumane attack because it was he who made use of the Easter Sunday attack to become President 

We came here to demand justice to those who have left us. I’m their aunt and I came here with my daughter. Only God can serve us justice 

“My brother’s son and two other children succumbed to the attack,” recalled Mathilda Fernando as tears welled up in her eyes. “We came here to demand justice to those who have left us. I’m their aunt and I came here with my daughter. Only God can serve us justice,” said Fernando. 


“Seeking Justice through unity and love” 
– Fr. Niroshan

We know that God is aware of the sacrifice made by our devotees. Let’s pray with hopes that He shows us the path to seek justice

“I thank God for protecting me on that day” – Priyadarshini
“Even though I attended the Easter Sunday service on April 21, 2019 I didn’t experience any injuries,” recalled Sunethra Priyadarshini. “I thank God for protecting me on that day. But why I came here is to demand justice for those who parted as it is high time that is served,” said Priyadarshini. 


“Both the ruling party and the Opposition knew about the incident” – Fernando

Both the ruling party and the Opposition knew about the incident, but they kept mum. As a result, innocent lives had to be sacrificed

“We were waiting for three years, but we realised that justice will never be served,” said Sudarshana Fernando. “Both the ruling party and the Opposition knew about the incident, but they kept mum. As a result, innocent lives had to be sacrificed. When the incumbent government was defeated in 2015 they knew that they could regain power by instilling a fear psychosis on people with bombs and weapons. They instill this fear in 2019 and within a matter of four days one person comes forward and announces that he would contest for Presidency,” said Fernando. 


“Victory gained at the expense of people’s blood is temporary” – Jayasuriya

On the other hand many are enjoying the victory they gained at the expense of people’s blood. But this victory is temporary and we can see that today 

We have taken steps to ensure proper coordination between the Armed Forces and the Police, who are collectively responsible for maintaining national security. The network of national intelligence agencies has been reorganized and strengthened

Addressing the fourth session of the 8th Parliament in January 2020, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that national security is a topmost priority. “In our policy, National Security occupies the foremost place.
We have already taken steps to strengthen the national security apparatus. Talented officers have been given appropriate responsibilities again. We have taken steps to ensure proper coordination between the Armed Forces and the Police, who are collectively responsible for maintaining national security. The network of national intelligence agencies has been reorganized and strengthened,” said President Rajapaksa.