Grenade inside church: SJB suspects diversionary tactic

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) says a thorough investigation is needed to establish the truth about the hand grenade recovered from All Saints Church, Borella.

Top SJB spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman yesterday (16) told a media briefing at the Opposition Leader’s Office, the government couldn’t ignore serious accusations made by the Archbishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.

Pointing out that in addition to Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa, both Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd) Sarath Weerasekera and Defence Secretary

Gen (retd) Kamal Gunaratne issued statements, strongly backing the original police version of the incident, lawmaker Rahuman asked whether a despicable attempt was being made to divert public attention away from the runaway cost-of-living and other problems such as gas-related explosions.

MP Rahuman said the government should address the Archbishop’s concerns without delay. The former UNPer pointed out that the Church repeatedly raised the failure on the part of law enforcement authorities to focus on a person who entered All Saints Church at 9.52 am, on January 11, and left the premises soon thereafter.

The Colombo District MP said that the incident could cause tensions among communities unless the government apprehended the person, in the video footage released by the Church. (SF)