(Sri Lanka Guardian) – Six years after the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, a new report by the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) reveals that Rs. 350.7 million was received by Seth Sarana, the social arm of the Archdiocese of Colombo, from local and foreign donors for victim support.
Of this amount, only Rs. 264.6 million has been itemised in the report for specific categories of expenditure. These include Rs. 102 million for children’s education, Rs. 53 million for purchasing land for houses in collaboration with the government, Rs. 35 million for daily expenses of victims, Rs. 17.8 million for medical expenses, Rs. 16.8 million for compensation, Rs. 30 million for low-income families, and Rs. 10 million for the reconstruction of Zion Church in Batticaloa. The report does not specify the use of the remaining Rs. 86.1 million.
According to the same report, 6 Years Since Easter Sunday Attacks: Still awaiting justice, the exact number of victims of the Easter Sunday attacks remains unconfirmed. It states, “Even though it has been more than 5 years, the exact number of victims are still uncertain,” and further notes that this has an impact on the disbursement of funds, potentially excluding some affected families from financial assistance.
In June 2024, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith responded publicly to allegations made by former President Maithripala Sirisena regarding the use of Church-collected funds. “The statement made by former President Sirisena is completely hateful and inappropriate,” Cardinal Ranjith stated, adding, “We requested assistance from both international and domestic parties to address the needs of the affected individuals… I cannot just tell the exact amount…around Rs. 500 million that we collected…but we have the data for verification.” He further noted that approximately Rs. 460 million had been distributed to the victims and that audited bank records were available.
Cardinal Ranjith also said, “If he [Sirisena] had inquired us before making such a statement, he could have obtained the necessary information,” suggesting that the remarks were made “impulsively without analyzing the facts.” Responding to media questions, the Cardinal added, “We don’t know whether anyone has misled the former President. There is politics here… our conscience is clear.”
The report also provides updates on ongoing legal proceedings related to the attacks. In the case of a suspect named Hejaaz Hizbullah, the report states, “Currently, the trial is ongoing. However, the evidence is weak against Hejaaz.” It also records that one of the prosecution witnesses admitted in court that previous statements made to the Criminal Investigation Department and the High Court were fabricated.
In another section, the report states that pressure from CSR led to administrative changes in national security leadership. It notes, “Due to the pressure exerted by CSR, Mr. Suresh Sallay was replaced and Shani Abeysekara and others were reinstated to their positions on contract basis.”
The report includes further recommendations such as expediting court cases related to the attacks, conducting international investigations, ensuring adequate compensation for victims, making all official reports publicly available, and verifying the exact number of those affected.
The Easter Sunday bombings occurred on 21 April 2019 and targeted churches and hotels in Colombo, Negombo, and Batticaloa, resulting in the deaths of over 260 people and injuring more than 400. Legal proceedings, compensation efforts, and investigative actions are ongoing.
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