Colombo, February 5 (PTI): The Sri Lankan government has denied any knowledge of an alleged plan to arrest former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalin Jayathissa stated on Wednesday.
The minister's comments come in response to claims made by opposition politician and former minister Udaya Gammanpila, who accused the government of orchestrating Rajapaksa’s arrest to shift blame onto the state intelligence services for the deadly attacks. The Easter Sunday suicide bombings, which targeted churches and luxury hotels, claimed the lives of 270 people, including several Indian nationals.
Gammanpila further alleged that the government intended to arrest both Rajapaksa and Suresh Sallay, who was the head of state intelligence at the time of the attacks. However, Jayathissa dismissed these claims, stating, "Someone must have informed Gammanpila, and he may be speaking based on his knowledge. However, the government will act solely based on the findings of the investigators."
Fresh Investigation into Easter Sunday Attacks
The newly elected National People’s Power (NPP) government has launched a renewed investigation into the Easter Sunday attacks. The move aligns with the coalition's pre-election pledge to reopen high-profile human rights abuse cases that occurred before 2015.
Concerns Over Decision in Lasantha Wickrematunga Murder Case
Meanwhile, Minister Jayathissa also addressed growing concerns over the attorney general’s recent decision to exonerate three key suspects in the 2009 murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga, the editor of The Sunday Leader.
According to reports, the attorney general on January 27 advised the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to inform the magistrate’s court that the three suspects were no longer considered responsible for the killing. This decision has sparked outrage among human rights organizations, prompting calls for the NPP government to ensure that justice is served in Wickrematunga’s assassination case.
The government has assured that the attorney general’s actions will be closely scrutinized and that due process will be followed in both ongoing and reopened investigations.
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