Preaching at the St. Anthony’s Shrine and Church, Kochchikade, Colombo, yesterday, Roman Catholic leader Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith observed that those behind the April 21st Easter Sunday bombings were “a group of youth who had fallen prey to extremists”.
In this light, the Cardinal stressed the need to further build inter-communal harmony among religious and ethnic communities in the country.
He was speaking at a special church service to mark three months since the Easter Sunday tragedy and to honor the victims of the bomb attacks at St.Anthony’s church yesterday.
The Cardinal remarked that although there were announcements that reports have been issued by committees appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attacks, he had not received any such reports yet. He called on the Government to appoint an independent committee to investigate the incident.
He asserted that the state intelligence and security establishment should take measures to prevent such attacks in the future. He also said that measures should be taken to prevent extremist ideologies being spread to influence people. The efforts to establish unity within different communities and religious groups should be further strengthened.
Cardinal Ranjith blessed and wished speedy recovery to those injured in the attack and offered prayers for those who had died.
Several political leaders and high ranking officers of the defence establishment were also present.
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