By: RadhakrishnaNS
Christian community in Sri Lanak on Sunday honoured the 279 people killed in the 2019 Easter bombings.
The country’s top Catholic leader warned of street protests unless those responsible were prosecuted.
The Christian minority across the country attended Easter Sunday masses under tight armed police and military security amid fears of fresh attacks, officials said.
Ranjith renewed his call for swift action against those responsible for the attack and said the then president Maithripala Sirisena should be prosecuted for criminal negligence in failing to prevent it.
“President Sirisena’s guilt has been identified in the commission report,” Ranjith told reporters outside the St. Anthony’s church. “I ask President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government why they are dragging their feet without prosecuting him.”
“We will take to the streets if no action is taken by April 21,” Ranjith said.
Christians observed a two-minute silence from 8.45 am (3.15 GMT) when the first of seven bombers struck in the coordinated attacks. Each target had one bomber while at the Shangri-La hotel there were two suicide bombers.
Security was stepped up at churches across the Buddhist-majority country ahead of Easter Sunday services to guard against a repeat of the suicide bombings blamed on a local jihadist group.
Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said more than 12,500 armed constables were on duty outside 1,944 churches, and were backed by military personnel.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith lit candles at the St. Anthony’s church where 56 people perished when local jihadists carried out coordinated suicide attacks against three hotels and three churches.
