From Cover-Up to Justice: AKD Promises Independent Probe into Easter Sunday Attacks

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the opportunity has been provided to conduct an independent investigation into the April 21 attacks.

"This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Easter Sunday attacks. For the past five and a half years, efforts were made to cover up the attacks rather than investigate them. The previous cabinet of ministers decided not to enact the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry. This means that the governments over the past five and a half years were focused on concealing the crime rather than uncovering the truth," said the President, adding that during such a period, many things can be hidden away. 

He said that the current government, which has been in power for six months, is committed to investigating this crime. 

"We are informed that some investigations are yielding fruitful results, conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department. We will not interfere and have paved the way for more independent investigations to take place," said Dissanayake.

He assured that the government of the National People's Power is dedicated to serving justice to the victims of these attacks. 

"We will strengthen the investigating agencies and ensure independent inquiries are conducted. The Attorney General's Department will prosecute based on these investigations, and the judiciary will deliver the verdict," said the President on Sunday (20).