PCoI members visit Katuwapitiya Church, one of the prime targets of Easter terrorists

By Rathindra Kuruwita 

Members of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks visited St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya on Saturday (15).

St. Sebastian’s Church was one of the targets of National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) terrorists on 21 April, 2019. The suicide bomb attack was carried out by Atchchi Muhammadu Muhammadu Hasthun.

One hundred and fifteen Easter worshipers at Katuwapitiya were killed during the attack. Among the 115 dead in Katuwapitiya, 32 were children (9 boys and 23 girls.) Ten children were killed in the Kochchikade Church blast (6 boys and 4 girls.) More than 253 persons injured at Katuwapitiya. About 37 Easter worshippers are still in critical condition (17 from Katuwapitiya and 20 from Kochchikade.)

Father Nishantha Lawrance Ramanayake, Director of Seth Sarana, earlier told the PCoI that the Catholic Church had opened six bank accounts after the Easter Sunday attacks and by 31 March 2020 and the members of the public had donated Rs. 518 million, the witness said. The funds had been used to assist the victims and their families.

Two hundred and eighty one families were affected by the bomb blast at the St. Sebastian Church in Katuwapitiya, 114 affected families by the blast at St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade and those affected at the Zion church, Batticaloa were given Rs. 147.4 million in assistance so far, Father Ramanayake said, adding that the Church continued to support those who were injured in the attacks.

“281 families affected by the blast at St. Sebastian Church in Katuwapitiya were given RS. 95.579 million; 114 families affected at St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade were given 41.9 million and Rs. 10 million was given to those affected at the Zion Church/”