The Catholic Church has welcomed the court verdict against those convicted over the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, while stressing that the judgment should not mark the end of efforts to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the bombings.
Speaking to reporters, Director of Mass Communications of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Rev. Fr. Jude Krishantha Fernando, said the Church welcomed the verdict after victims and their families had waited years for justice.
He said the judgment would also send a strong message against religious extremism, emphasizing that religion must never be misused or distorted to justify violence.
However, Fr. Krishantha said the individuals convicted in the case represented only one part of the wider investigation. He called for continued inquiries into whether others had helped facilitate the attacks or contributed to circumstances that allowed them to take place.
He further alleged that intelligence and security authorities had received sufficient information to prevent the attacks but failed to take necessary action. He called for investigations to determine whether there was any wider involvement or motive behind those failures.
Previous official inquiries have examined the handling of intelligence received ahead of the attacks, while the Supreme Court has also issued a judgment on fundamental rights petitions concerning failures by senior officials.
Fr. Krishantha also called for further legal action, where supported by evidence, against individuals identified in previous investigations and commission recommendations.
He said the Church would consider the pursuit of justice complete only when all those responsible for the attacks, as well as any related failures, had been properly investigated and dealt with according to the law.
The Catholic Church has consistently called for investigations into whether additional individuals were involved in the Easter Sunday attacks and for anyone found responsible to face legal action.
