COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has urged Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal to allow the ongoing investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings to proceed without interference, arguing that previous inquiries had failed to properly investigate the attacks and that the current investigation was moving in the right direction.
The submissions were made Thursday by President's Counsel Shamil Perera, appearing for Cardinal Ranjith in an intervening petition filed in connection with a writ application by former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay.
Sallay has petitioned the Court of Appeal challenging his arrest and detention under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The intervening petitions were heard for a second consecutive day before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Rohanta Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.
Perera told the court that Cardinal Ranjith had intervened on behalf of the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, which killed more than 260 people and injured hundreds more.
"Some ask why the Cardinal has come before this court," Perera said. "He is here on behalf of the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks."
Perera referred to the controversial documentary aired by Britain's Channel 4, which alleged that Sallay was the mastermind behind the coordinated bombings.
"Those allegations must be properly investigated," Perera argued. "No proper investigation was conducted in the past. A proper investigation is now underway. That is what the victims have been expecting. No action should be taken to obstruct that process."
He also told the court that Cardinal Ranjith had played a significant role in calming communal tensions following the attacks, supporting victims and their families, and facilitating compensation payments of 2 million Sri Lankan rupees to the families of those killed and up to 1 million rupees for those injured.
Perera said the Cardinal had not sought to influence the investigation and argued that it should be allowed to continue so that justice could be delivered to the victims.
Responding on behalf of Sallay, President's Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena challenged several assertions made in the Cardinal's intervening petition.
Jayawardena referred to submissions made during an earlier hearing concerning remarks by Leader of the House and Minister Bimal Rathnayake in Parliament, in which he said investigators Shani Abeysekara and Ravi Seneviratne had been appointed to their current positions at the Cardinal's request.
Jayawardena also told the court that the Jayaki de Alwis Committee had recommended criminal charges against Abeysekara and Seneviratne and said the committee's report had been submitted to the court.
He further argued that the Cardinal's petition contained a factual error, saying it incorrectly stated under oath that Sallay had been serving in the State Intelligence Service at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks.
"The statement is not factually correct," Jayawardena told the court.
President's Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, appearing for intervening petitioner Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera, also addressed the court.
Referring to Rathnayake's parliamentary remarks, Gunaratne questioned the conduct of investigator Shani Abeysekara, alleging that he had travelled to France and recorded a statement from a person who was the subject of an arrest warrant while at the Sri Lankan Embassy there.
"A police officer who encounters a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued should arrest that person and produce him before court," Gunaratne argued.
He also contended that arresting and detaining intelligence officers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act was contrary to the sovereignty of the people and undermined national security.
President's Counsel V.K. Choksy, appearing for intervening petitioner Thapane Sumanawansa Thera, said his client's petition was not intended to obstruct the investigation but was filed in the public interest out of concern that similar retaliatory action could occur in the future.
Senior Counsel Krishmal Warnakulasuriya, appearing for the Global Sri Lanka Forum, argued that Articles 3 and 4 of Sri Lanka's Constitution vest sovereignty in the people.
"A fair investigation into these attacks must be conducted," he said. "However, justice cannot be expected from an investigation that is subject to political interference."
After hearing the submissions, the Court of Appeal adjourned further consideration of the intervening petitions until Aug. 10.
