Minister Johnston Fernando: ‘We will never allow any bomb blasts to take place again’

COLOMBO: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa does not have a moral right to participate in the Black Sunday protests since he was in an alliance with the leaders responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks, Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said.

“Today also he is with the same people who did not make any attempt to prevent the attack although foreign intelligence agencies have warned relevant persons and authorities 97 times over the possible attacks,” said the minister, according to Daily News.

“It is hilarious when those responsible are protesting against the Easter Sunday attack when they could have avoided the massive disaster. This is an insult to the victims of the Easter Sunday Attack,” he said.

The minister said that the President made it clear that those involved in the Easter attack will be punished.

“We do not want to cover up the investigations and to protect perpetrators and associates of those who responsible for the attacks,” he said.

Some senior ministers in the former regime said that just 300 people were killed in the attacks.

“The former defense secretary said that he did not think an attack would happen. Even former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he did not know anything as the Security Council was not functional,” the minister said.

“We will defiantly punish the culprits and will never allow any bomb blasts to take place again in the country,” the minister said.