Sri Lankan President Stands Firm: No International Probe into Easter Bombings

In a recent statement, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe firmly denied any possibility of an international-aided independent probe into the horrific Easter bombings that took place in 2019. The attack, carried out by nine suicide bombers belonging to the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ), devastated three Catholic churches and multiple luxury hotels, resulting in the deaths of almost 270 people and leaving over 500 injured.

President Wickremesinghe expressed his dissatisfaction with the Western media's double standards and criticized their calls for an international investigation. He highlighted that the Western governments themselves had not allowed any international inquiries when accusations were made against them. Wickremesinghe stated, "Germany does not have such inquiries. The UK does not have such inquiries. What international inquiries have they gone into? Why is it for Sri Lankans and Asians? You think we are second class?"

Referring to the FBI report on the terror attack, the president emphasized that no external forces were involved. The assistance of various international intelligence agencies, including those from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, China, and Pakistan, had been sought during the investigations. Wickremesinghe questioned the basis for the allegations made by certain media outlets, arguing that the reports provided by these intelligence services contradicted them.

However, the president did acknowledge the need for an investigation into the allegations made by the British channel, Channel 4, which aired a documentary claiming the involvement of certain government officials in orchestrating the Easter bombings. He pledged to establish a parliamentary select committee to thoroughly examine these accusations and determine if there was indeed a mastermind behind the attacks. President Wickremesinghe fiercely defended his government against accusations of a lack of accountability for human rights violations.

When pressed on this matter during an interview, he retorted angrily, stating, "You are talking nonsense. You have no right to ask me this question. Do you think we are second class? You need to take this Western attitude out. You stop it, I stop it, We go off." In light of these statements, it is clear that President Wickremesinghe firmly believes in Sri Lanka's capability to conduct its own internal investigations into the Easter bombings, rejecting the need for an international probe. The president's strong stance against the allegations made by the Western media showcases his determination to address these issues within the country and reaffirm Sri Lanka's sovereignty on matters of national security.