“Cardinal wants me hanged”

I destroyed Zahran’s entire terrorist organization within three weeks. That is why I say, I’m suffering for something I did in a past life. I caught some 160 suspects, while Mr. Gotabaya released two of them. Who allowed the data of the attacker’s mobile phone to be taken to the intelligence services of another country? 

 By Kalani Kumarasinghe  

Former President Maithripala Sirisena charged that Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is impatient with the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks, adding that the head of the Catholic Church is keen to have him sent to the gallows.  

“There has been no conclusion to any of the ongoing Easter Sunday attack investigations,” the former President said, adding that other countries have taken ten to fifteen years to conclude similar terrorist attack investigations.  

“The Cardinal is keen to conclude the investigations in a hurry and send me to prison or have me hanged. He is willing to commit this sin without waiting for the probe to end,” Sirisena charged.  

The former President said that a number of unanswered questions remain in several key areas of the investigation. Reports of several global intelligence agencies, who assisted Sri Lanka in the investigations, should also be considered, Sirisena said. Sirisena was critical of how the investigations have been handled since 2019, stating that some suspects were released by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.  

“Who allowed the data of the attacker’s mobile phone to be taken to the intelligence services of another country? It is only me that they’re eager to attack, while the attackers have gone free. I caught some 160 suspects, while Mr. Gotabaya released two of them,” Sirisena said.  

He added that there is serious doubt concerning the wife of the mastermind, whose identity remains a question.”I destroyed Zahran’s entire terrorist organization within three weeks. That is why I say, I’m suffering for something I did in a past life. Why not file cases against the bombers? Why not stage protests against them?” he questioned.   

“There has been no conclusion to any of the ongoing Easter Sunday attack investigations,” the former President said, adding that other countries have taken ten to fifteen years to conclude similar terrorist attack investigations.  

“The Cardinal is keen to conclude the investigations in a hurry and send me to prison or have me hanged. He is willing to commit this sin without waiting for the probe to end,” Sirisena charged.  

The former President said that a number of unanswered questions remain in several key areas of the investigation. Reports of several global intelligence agencies, who assisted Sri Lanka in the investigations, should also be considered, Sirisena said. Sirisena was critical of how the investigations have been handled since 2019, stating that some suspects were released by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.   “Who allowed the data of the attacker’s mobile phone to be taken to the intelligence services of another country? It is only me that they’re eager to attack, while the attackers have gone free. I caught some 160 suspects, while Mr. Gotabaya released two of them,” Sirisena said.   He added that there is serious doubt concerning the wife of the mastermind, whose identity remains a question.”I destroyed Zahran’s entire terrorist organization within three weeks. That is why I say, I’m suffering for something I did in a past life. Why not file cases against the bombers? Why not stage protests against them?” he questioned.