A new report released ahead of the seventh anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings says Sri Lanka’s investigations are only now showing progress while warning that key questions remain unanswered.
The report titled “Memory, Pain and the Hope,” published by the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), highlights that despite at least eight separate investigations since the coordinated attacks on April 21, 2019, justice has yet to be fully delivered.
Several of these probes revealed indications that the bombings may not have been carried out solely by extremist preacher Zahran Hashim and his group, pointing to the possibility of a “hidden hand” behind the operation, the CSR noted.
The report raises concerns over delays, lack of transparency, and alleged interference in investigations, including the transfer of investigators and the failure to release full reports of key commissions. Some 41 related court cases have emerged since the attacks, which killed more than 250 people.
Among its recommendations, the CSR calls for the publication of all investigation reports, protection of investigators from political interference, the establishment of a fully empowered independent commission with local and foreign experts, and swift legal action against all those responsible.
The report urges authorities to make 2026 a “turning point” in the pursuit of justice. It comes as the Easter attacks anniversary approaches on April 21, with parliamentary questions about the alleged conspiracy and the ongoing court case against alleged mastermind keeping the issue in the national spotlight.
