Catholic Bishops move Vatican for justice

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka (CBCSL) after pleading to all local authorities for justice after more than 1,000 days since the massacre for the victims of Easter Sunday carnage, Friday said that there was no other option than seeking international assistance.

“The CBCSL is appalled at the failure on the part of the Government and the Attorney General’s Department to move to implement the recommendations made by the Commission of lnquiry into the Easter Sunday Bomb Attack,” said a statement signed by President of CBCSL Badulla Bishop J. Winston S. Fernando and its General Secretary, Auxialiary Bishop of Colombo, J. D. Anthony.

The Cardinal is now in Rome for consultation with the Vatican authorities and is expected to receive an audience from the Pope.

The full text of the CBSL statement: “More than 1,000 days have passed since the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attack. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka (CBCSL) has appealed to the Government time and again in all its statements and the recent Pastoral Letter of January 14, 2022 to bring before the Courts of Justice all responsible for the onslaught on hundreds of innocent lives.

“The CBCSL is appalled at the failure on the part of the Government and the Attorney General’s Department to move to implement the recommendations made by the Commission of lnquiry into the Easter Sunday Bomb Attack. As there seems to be not only a delay but attempts to hide the truth, exploit the massacre for political gain and also to complicate the issues, we see no option other than to seek international assistance to help mete out justice to the victims.

“Together with His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, the CBCSL reiterates the need to adopt the said option.

“ln solidarity with the victims of the tragedy we continue to pray to God Almighty, the Lord of Justice and Mercy, through the intercession of Our Lady of Lanka and St. Joseph Vaz, the Apostle of Sri Lanka to hear our cry.”