Minister Bimal Rathnayake made a striking revelation in Parliament yesterday (10), stating that the appointments of Shani Abeysekara and Ravi Seneviratne were made at the request of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, in connection with the investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
His remarks have sparked widespread discussion across social media, as they shed new light on the controversial appointments and investigation delays.
Speaking during a debate, the minister criticized past handling of the investigations, stating:
“Who led the investigations after the Easter attacks? First it was some of these people (pointing to SJB MPs), then Gotabaya, then Ranil. So after 2018, the entire investigation process was derailed. Nothing was done properly.”
He went on to clarify that Shani Abeysekara did not volunteer for the role, but was brought in following pressure from Christian religious leaders, including the Cardinal. “They insisted that Shani be reinstated, and Ravi Seneviratne was also appointed following requests from the Catholic community,” he added.
Minister Bimal further claimed:
“The President explained it clearly — during that period, criminals were not only protected by the government but also took control of the investigation process. That era lasted for seven years. After that, we’ve resumed proper investigations. Gotabaya’s first action after winning was replacing 70% of the CID.”
He concluded by questioning the legitimacy of current criticism: “Now those very people have the audacity to question the reports of these investigations.”
