{"id":1440350,"date":"2022-04-15T12:45:21","date_gmt":"2022-04-15T16:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1440350"},"modified":"2022-04-15T12:45:32","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T16:45:32","slug":"sri-lanka-prepares-for-easter-bombing-anniversary-amid-ceaseless-protests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sri-lanka-prepares-for-easter-bombing-anniversary-amid-ceaseless-protests\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka Prepares for Easter Bombing Anniversary amid Ceaseless Protests"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsri-lanka-prepares-for-easter-bombing-anniversary-amid-ceaseless-protests%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1440350&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">Sunday in Sri Lanka will mark the third Easter since Islamic State-affiliated jihadists bombed three churches and three Christian-frequented hotels on the holiest holiday in Christianity, killing over 200 people and injuring hundreds of others.<\/p>\n<p>The events arrive as Sri Lankans take the streets on a daily basis demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and every government official belonging to the Rajapaksa family oligarchy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>Sri Lanka is currently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2022\/04\/12\/caruzo-how-china-green-policies-democratic-socialism-destroyed-sri-lanka\/\">facing<\/a> the worst economic crisis in its history, resulting in severe shortages of food, medicine, gasoline, and other basic needs that have prompted needless death, violence, and suffering.<\/p>\n<p>A protest on Thursday night appeared to attract thousands of people singing the national anthem and waving the country\u2019s flag, demanding an end to the current government.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The national anthem sung in the midst of the protest.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SriLanka?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SriLanka<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SLNews?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SLNews<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xaNnNMlHgP\">pic.twitter.com\/xaNnNMlHgP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Dailymirror_SL\/status\/1514633410815438856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 14, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>Protesters also reportedly stormed the home of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.colombopage.com\/archive_22A\/Apr12_1649781351CH.php\">recently appointed<\/a> Agriculture Minister Shantha Bandara on Thursday.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Protesters raided Minister Shantha Bandara&#8217;s residence last evening.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SriLanka?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SriLanka<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SLnews?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SLnews<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GiQQqhZdNy\">pic.twitter.com\/GiQQqhZdNy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Dailymirror_SL\/status\/1514881106956341250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 15, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Easter bombings occurred during a brief respite in modern Sri Lankan history in which the president of the country was not a Rajapaksa. A power <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2018\/10\/31\/world-view-sri-lanka-constitutional-crisis-represents-opportunity-for-china\/\">struggle<\/a> directly linked to the Rajapaksas, however \u2013 then-President Maithripala Sirisena had attempted to oust Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replace him with Mahinda Rajapaksa, prompting a major brawl in Parliament in which lawmakers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2018\/11\/16\/sri-lankan-lawmakers-throw-punches-chili-powder-mass-parliament-brawl\/\">threw<\/a> chili powder in each other\u2019s eyes \u2013 was underway when the attacks occurred. Investigations following the bombings indicated that Sirisena\u2019s government, perhaps distracted by the infighting, ignored a letter from Indian intelligence agents warning that jihadists were planning a major terrorist attack in the country shortly before such an attack occurred.<\/p>\n<p>Terrorists later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2019\/04\/22\/sri-lanka-identifies-radical-imam-suspected-masterminding-easter-bombings\/\">identified<\/a> as members of a terrorist organization named\u00a0National Towheeth Jamath (NTJ), a group that had pledged <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2019\/04\/23\/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-sri-lanka-easter-bombings\/\">allegiance<\/a> to the Islamic State, sent suicide bombers into three churches and three hotels hosting Easter brunches, which attract large crowds of Christians celebrating the occasion. Survivors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2019\/04\/24\/i-couldnt-watch-burning-babies-sri-lanka-christians-struggle-jihad-aftermath\/\">recalled<\/a> that, in the churches, the suicide bombers appeared to deliberately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2019\/04\/21\/explosions-rock-sri-lanka-churches-at-least-138-killed-on-easter-sunday\/\">detonate<\/a> their explosives towards the back of the church because this is where parents with young children tend to linger so that, in case the children get fussy, they can dart out of the service without disturbing other worshippers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI couldn\u2019t bare to watch burning babies and children,\u201d a survivor identified as Hamza <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2019\/04\/24\/i-couldnt-watch-burning-babies-sri-lanka-christians-struggle-jihad-aftermath\/\">told<\/a> Sri Lanka\u2019s\u00a0<em>Daily\u00a0<\/em><em>Mirror<\/em>\u00a0at the time.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI heard the explosions, I saw the bodies, you know \u2014 the parts of the bodies, legs and hands and all,\u201d\u00a0Father Neville Fernandom present at the targeted St. Sebastian\u2019s Church in Negombo, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2019\/11\/21\/exclusive-sri-lankan-priest-on-picking-up-the-pieces-after-surviving-easter-bombing\/\">told<\/a> Breitbart News in 2019. \u201cI was just trapped in the middle of the church, I could not do anything.\u201d<br \/>The Sirisena government responded to the attack by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/03\/15\/sri-lanka-announces-burqa-ban-easter-jihad-anniversary-approaches\/\">banning<\/a> the\u00a0<em>burqa<\/em>, a fundamentalist Islamic full-body covering for women, and engaging in mass <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2019\/05\/08\/overstayed-their-welcome-sri-lanka-continues-mass-deportations-after-easter-bombings\/\">deportations<\/a> of Muslims.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20668148\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1240000377.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-20668148\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1240000377-1024x683-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"990\" height=\"660\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>People shout slogans during an ongoing anti-government demonstration outside the president\u2019s office in Colombo on April 15, 2022, demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the country\u2019s crippling economic crisis. (JEWEL SAMAD\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Sri Lanka is a religiously <a href=\"https:\/\/culturalatlas.sbs.com.au\/sri-lankan-culture\/sri-lankan-culture-religion\">diverse<\/a> country in which about 70 percent of the population identifies as Buddhist, with significant Christian, Muslim, and Hindu minorities. While Christians in the community only demanded justice for the killed, the Buddhist majority <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2019\/05\/13\/sri-lankan-stage-mob-attacks-on-mosques\/\">responded<\/a> to the bombings with mob attacks on mosques and businesses believed to be owned by Muslims. One prominent Buddhist monk,\u00a0Asigiri Chapter Prelate Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2019\/06\/18\/sri-lanka-buddhist-monk-says-stoning-muslims-should-happen-amid-sterilization-panic\/\">suggested<\/a> Muslim women should be \u201cstoned to death.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>President Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed the upcoming anniversary on Tuesday, vowing justice for those affected.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe tragic experience of the brutal Easter Sunday attack that happened three years ago continues to resonate in our minds. Therefore, I affirm that our government is committed to ensuring justice to all the victims of the Easter Sunday attack and enforcing law against all the responsible parties, by means of due and proper investigations,\u201d Rajapaksa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/breaking_news\/Govt-committed-to-ensure-justice-to-Easter-Sunday-attack-victims-Prez\/108-235046\">said<\/a> in his annual Easter message.<\/p>\n<p>Rajapaksa\u2019s message arrived as discontent and calls for his resignation grow in the country. Protesters have turned their outrage towards the Easter bombings in addition to the sprawling economic crisis. The nation\u2019s defense secretary,\u00a0Kamal Gunaratne, answered to complaints this week that the Rajapaksa government, while not in power during the attacks, has done nothing to further secure the country in the event of a future attack.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cDenying claims by certain elements that investigations into the Easter attack are not being executed appropriately he said that the government and the relevant security agencies have taken all necessary actions and continue to do so concerning the investigations on this terrorist act,\u201d Sri Lanka\u2019s News 1st <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsfirst.lk\/2022\/04\/13\/defence-sec-denies-allegations-on-easter-bombings-probe\/\">reported<\/a> on Wednesday.\u00a0Gunaratne added the government had arrested 735 people since the attacks happened in relation to them and filed 27 cases against 79 people.<\/p>\n<p>Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando, a representative of the Catholic Church, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.adaderana.lk\/news\/81826\/fr-cyril-gamini-responds-to-defence-secretarys-comments\">objected<\/a> to Gunarathne\u2019s defense of the Rajapaksa government on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst of all, what is the moral right that Mr. Kamal Gunaratne has as a public servant to protect political leaders from allegations regarding this Easter attack?\u201d Fernando asked.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20668166\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1239962691.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-20668166\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1239962691-1024x683-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"990\" height=\"660\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Protesters take a selfie with the message \u201cGo home Gota\u201d in the background during a demonstration against the economic crisis at the entrance of the president\u2019s office in Colombo on April 13, 2022. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fernando also attacked the government for not acting to prosecute high-ranking government officials later revealed to have been privy to Indian intelligence of a forthcoming jihadist attack.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the assistance of international intelligence agencies had been sought to find out the truth about the Easter attack, why not take action with the assistance of the Indian intelligence service,\u201d the clergyman asked, \u201cwhich had initially warned about the attacks and passed on specific information to (former SIS chief) Nilantha Jayawardena?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A famous Sri Lankan cricketer,\u00a0Dhammika Prasad, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/cricketnext\/news\/former-sri-lanka-cricketer-on-hunger-strike-demands-justice-for-easter-attack-victims-4989571.html\">joined<\/a> the cause on Friday, announcing a 24-hour hunger strike to demand justice for the victims of the Easter bombings.<\/p>\n<p>Sri Lanka\u2019s lawmakers organized a \u201cselect committee\u201d in 2019 to investigate the attacks and explore if the Sirisena government could have prevented them. The committee revealed in May of that year that Indian officials had warned that the Islamic State was interested in killing Christians in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA letter was received by my office on April 7 issued by the SIS, titled \u2018Information of an alleged plan of attack\u2019 which contained details of a possible bomb threat,\u201d former Sri Lankan\u00a0State Intelligence Service (SIS) head Sisira Mendis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2019\/05\/29\/sri-lanka-intelligence-chief-says-officials-knew-about-easter-jihad-did-nothing\/\">told<\/a> the committee.\u00a0\u201cIt was a Sunday and when I reported to work on Monday morning (April 8) I read it and was seeking a chance to talk about it with Defense Secretary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The defense secretary at the time, Hemasiri Fernando, resigned shortly after the attacks.<\/p>\n<p><em>Follow Frances Martel on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/francesimartel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/francesmartel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">Twitter.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sunday in Sri Lanka will mark the third Easter since Islamic State-affiliated jihadists bombed three churches and three Christian-frequented hotels on the holiest holiday in Christianity, killing over 200 people<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1440350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1440350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1440350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1440350\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1440350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1440350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1440350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}