Perpetrators behind Easter Sunday attacks can be forgiven: Cardinal

11 September 2023 05:03 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 42 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith over the weekend stressed that the perpetrators behind the Easter Sunday bomb attacks can be forgiven if they accept responsibility and repent.

"We are ready to forgive the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday attacks if they accept responsibility and repent. Following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, those who were involved in racial riots came and repented their wrong doings. The then President of South Africa Nelson Mandela forgave all wrong doers after they repented. We are also willing to forgive the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday attacks if they repent," Cardinal Ranjith said during a church service.

"Those who have alledged to have engineered the Easter Sunday bomb attacks should display their honesty by resigning from the post they are holding. Honesty is not hiding behind politicians. One should not be afraid to embrace the truth," he added.

He said the Church only wants to know the truth. (Yohan Perera)

Comments - 42

ANNECUNT Monday, 11 September 2023 05:11 PM

Yes you are correct but need to bring back the stolen money

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David Alston Tuesday, 12 September 2023 04:02 AM

How can you decide ?? It's for victims families. You can't take law into your own hands.

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Sam Silva Monday, 11 September 2023 05:17 PM

Getting cold feet because you are afraid of the truth. May be in religious manner the you could manipulate to forgive the culprits but not as humanity .

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warren Monday, 11 September 2023 05:27 PM

Why does this person vacillate? Unbelievable!!!

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Steuart Martin Monday, 11 September 2023 05:29 PM

At last something " spiritually credible" from the Cardinal. Before it was " revenge, revenge "

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sri Lankan Monday, 11 September 2023 05:36 PM

Why suddenly, any fear for DAPPULA

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Kumara Monday, 11 September 2023 05:54 PM

They can go for truth and reconciliation overseen by an international committee, if not political parties will interfere and make the efforts ineffective.

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Jagath Ekanaya Monday, 11 September 2023 06:13 PM

Rajapaksas will never accept responsibility.

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Natalie Nanayaka Monday, 11 September 2023 06:16 PM

They are certainly not hiding behind Ranil rather Ranil is hiding behind the perpetrators. In fact they give the president his orders.

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Henry Mathiaz Monday, 11 September 2023 06:18 PM

The people who can forgive are the victims' families. And, Sri Lanka needs law and order, not a person who is appointed by Pope to give a blanket apology.

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Grace Monday, 11 September 2023 06:41 PM

Why did the cardinal flip flopped on this issue suddenly? He should understand the pains of those who lost their loved ones. We need justice.

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Leonard Monday, 11 September 2023 06:54 PM

Cardinal Those who masterminded and perpetrated the Easter Sunday atrocity are now in Allah’s paradise enjoying the company of the 72 virgins promised. If you like you could convey your forgiveness to them through Allah.

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Sharmila Monday, 11 September 2023 06:54 PM

First step to sweep the entire episode under the carpet.

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Navi Monday, 11 September 2023 07:00 PM

Cardinal need to inquire how CID Police Sergeant NANDALAL was able to alert politician Harin Fernando's father? According to Investigative Journalist, Keerthi Ratnayake (KR), if CID Poilce Sergeant Nandalal was aware of the impending attack then the entire CID should have known including Shani ..... KR also state, he had written an article in the LankaeNews in January (04 moths ) prior to the incident of an impending attack and no one had picked it up...... he categorically state, this was planned by RAW

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Mahila Tuesday, 12 September 2023 02:32 AM

Sri Lankans and Nation are a Joke!!!???

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Karalasingam Sivalingam Monday, 11 September 2023 07:03 PM

In South Africa an apartheid policy was pursued by the whites against the blacks.The scenario in Easter Sunday carnage was perpetrated by few hundred people, nine were suicide bombers not living among us, the rest are supposed to be politicians and their goons, if they are to be pardon what is going to happen to three hirechy people fined by court to pay 100 million, 50 million ,25 millionn to the victims' families, for negligence of duties, will these fines would be recinded, overruling supreme Court verdict. In my contention among SriLankans, hard to find people of honest calibre to accept crimes perpetrated by them, on the other hand would the victims of Easter Sunday carnage pardon them.

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KD Monday, 11 September 2023 07:12 PM

Somebody tell this supposed religious man that the perpetrators perished that day as well. And, you are supposed to forgive unconditionally.

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Robin Banks Monday, 11 September 2023 07:28 PM

The problem Cardinal Malcom is, that most of the current members in the government including the president would have to be forgiven because they are all accomplices along with the rajapaksas.

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Tamil Boy Monday, 11 September 2023 07:36 PM

Mr. Cardinal , The world closely watch your speeches after April 2019 tragically incident. You can't cheat the followers long time.

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Bernard Jayatilake Monday, 11 September 2023 07:55 PM

If and when they take responsibility and repent, the Church will forgive, God will forgive but not the souls of all those who perished on the Easter Sunday.

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Jagath Leanage Monday, 11 September 2023 08:00 PM

But , we are not prepared to forgive any of the perpetrators .

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Dee Monday, 11 September 2023 08:29 PM

Why? Do you want them to contest elections and win to ‘save the country’? We won’t forget 2019 November elections!

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Banda Iya Monday, 11 September 2023 10:04 PM

Cardinal's change of mind raises many questions? Present day generation is very smart.

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Pantha Kumaran Monday, 11 September 2023 11:45 PM

Cardinal, yes I agree with you. But do you really want these lots to be pardoned . They killed the Tamil brothers and sisters. At that time you never opened you big mouth. Why now. Let the majority killed the minority to please the majority.

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GHT Tuesday, 12 September 2023 12:24 AM

That is none other than RANIL WICKREMASINGHE you mean? Every honest citizen knows the fact that what you know clearly.

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Jude Tuesday, 12 September 2023 04:52 AM

Pass the comment to Cardinal

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Eper Tuesday, 12 September 2023 05:23 AM

Excellent narrative by the cardinal “as we forgive those who sin against us” which is stated in the Lord’s Prayer.

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samsam Tuesday, 12 September 2023 06:09 AM

you can forgive, no one in your family died.

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Wannithantrj Tuesday, 12 September 2023 06:15 AM

Hilarious comment Mr. Cardinal Reference to South Africa. Should he not ACCEPT THE GOPEL which you promised when You took the oath of "OBEDIANCE"

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Johann Gunasekara Tuesday, 12 September 2023 07:06 AM

Oh cardinal why do you swing like a pendulum, you were ok with hanging drug traffickers, then you retracted, you wanted justice for the bombings and now you are satisfied with reparation, are you once again “leading your flock” astray like you did to get Gota to power???

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Christian Tuesday, 12 September 2023 07:51 AM

Why this sudden change of heart, Cardinal?? You should have forgiven at the beginning itself according to your Christian faith, instead you kept asking for justice and punishment continuously to the point that you drove away people from attending Sunday mass!!!!! Shame on you!!

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Rodney Tuesday, 12 September 2023 09:12 AM

No one knows the truth how can forgive innocent lives taken away people who suffer day in day out are the once that lost love ones Political leaders must take full responsibility to keep country and citizens safe at any given time having all info......

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Prof. H.G. Gamage Tuesday, 12 September 2023 10:54 AM

Cardinal please don't play double game. It seems you too are involved in the Easter Sunday Attacks along with Gota, Mahinda and Basil.

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N.M.H. Mohideen Nawas Tuesday, 12 September 2023 10:59 AM

Are you going to forgive Gota, Basil and Mahinda? Don't conn Cardinal.

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A Truth Finder Tuesday, 12 September 2023 12:10 PM

Most Rev Cardinal; do not keep on changing your stand. Then you will look like a politician. Through UNHCR and/or Vatican demand ICC or a Panel set up on the auspices of the UN to investigate the Easter Attack.

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Victim Tuesday, 12 September 2023 12:29 PM

Cardinal's comment is quite unnecessary. Why have a Court Case then ? If the Court finds that the culprits are guilty, the Court will impose punishment on them and not forgive them as remarked by the Cardinal.

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Nadi Karunaratne Tuesday, 12 September 2023 01:04 PM

Not by me they can't. Too vile for this life. Even their mothers should disown them. If you voted for them, contributed to their campaign funds you also share a burden of guilt.

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srimahal goonewardene Tuesday, 12 September 2023 02:57 PM

We all like to have a quiet and peaceful mind when we are in a Holy Mass, praising and glorifying the Holy Trinity, our living creator. Our focus should not be distracted from the homily, which is centered around the readings of the day. Apart from our time with God, the rest of our time belongs to our religion and the community. We should patiently wait to see what God will do, as he has already judged those who have done wrong. We are proud that everyone, including the head of the religious community, has done their best to bring some peace to the injured. It is not necessary to know what has been given at any time, as we are not politicians seeking victory. I propose that we take a pause in this long story and process, until this and future governments, like the previous two, use the government's public machinery to highlight the wrongdoers. This way, the our cardinal's message on behalf of his people can be realized. However, the county's law will ultimately determine the outcome

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Wickrema Perera Tuesday, 12 September 2023 03:24 PM

Nobody seems to understand how cunning Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith's statement is. Does he have the legality to forgive? If anyone is foolish enough to accept, who is going to stop the wheels of justice from moving to the next step?

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Rip Winkle Tuesday, 12 September 2023 06:08 PM

Why wasn't my response printed???

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Gemunu Dissanayake Wednesday, 13 September 2023 07:52 AM

Cardinal was very vocal before he received the Report from the Government. Why he is not disclosing content of the report? If he is genuine, he must release the report to general public and reveal the real truth.

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melville pererra Wednesday, 13 September 2023 03:46 PM

cardinal's conscious turn is surprising compared to the vicious outbursts he displayed over this crime showing off his religious and church powers demanding an immediate probe and even asking the pope to intervene History shows us how kings and churches lost the dominance they had as political forces. Now he is ready to spiritually pardon the cul;prits if they confess??? What stupid thinking. Cardinal's conscious turn is surprising compared to the vicious outburst he d

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