(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajith Rohana said that investigations into the terrorist attack on Easter Sunday last year have been conducted properly.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Police Headquarters yesterday (19), DIG Ajith Rohana said nearly 600 statements have been recorded in the investigation.
To date, the investigation has been carried out under 12 main investigation teams. A total of 216 suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack. There are 7 women among them.
DIG Rohana said 153 suspects in connection with the attack have been either detained in police custody on court orders obtained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) or remanded by the courts under the same law.
He said further information have been received on those who contributed to the attacks and investigations on those are continuing. “We have done well as major investigations agencies,” the official added.
DIG Rohana’s clarification comes following the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s remarks that the Catholics cannot be satisfied with the ongoing investigation carried out by the government over the Easter Sunday bomb attack.
“The Easter Sunday attack incidents need to be investigated thoroughly and we want to know the truth of those who were behind the incident, funded it and those who inspired to do this kind of activities,” the Archbishop was quoted as saying.
A group of nine suicide bombers affiliated to local Islamist extremist group National Thowheed Jamath on the 21 April 2019 attacked three churches and three luxury hotels, killing 260 people, including 47 foreign nationals, and injuring at least 500.
