‘Black Sunday’ protest: Political groups, Buddhist and Muslim organizations pledge support

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Roman Catholic community is leading the so-called “Black Sunday” protest campaign being launched on Sunday demanding the truth behind the Easter Sunday attacks two years ago.

The attacks which were carried out on three churches and three five-star hotels killed more than 260 people and devastated the country’s economy, Economy Next reported.

Last Sunday Catholic congregants were asked to take home a special prayer asking for redress and demanding justice.

The Church is responding to a report by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the massacre which did not pin the blame squarely on any particular person or group for masterminding the attacks.

The Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, has stated that he is dissatisfied with the inquiry and says his flock demands justice.

Several political groups as well as Buddhist and Muslim organizations have pledged support to the protest.

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) also endorsed the call by Ranjith to “investigate and prosecute those who masterminded the dastardly terrorist attacks of 21st April 2019.”

The MCSL “requested all Muslims to join the call by His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith for silent protests on Sunday the 7th of March 2021.

“The Muslim community joins all Sri Lankans in asking for an immediate and impartial enquiry to find the people responsible for planning and carrying out the terrorist attacks and bring them to justice,” a press release issued by the council said.

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya said its Catholic Members of Parliament will join the protest. (Colombo, March 6, 2021)