Easter Sunday attack : Cardinal refutes former President Sirisena’s allegations

Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has strongly refuted allegations made by former President Maithripala Sirisena regarding the distribution of funds received for the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks. Cardinal Ranjith asserted that all documentation is available to verify how the funds were utilized.

In a firm response to Sirisena's claims, the Cardinal labeled the former president's statements as baseless, hateful, and inappropriate. He emphasized that Sirisena should have sought information from the concerned parties before making such accusations.

"Following the Easter attacks, we requested assistance from both international and domestic sources to address the needs of the affected individuals," Cardinal Ranjith stated. "These needs included medical treatment in private hospitals and educational support for orphaned children."

While unable to specify the exact amount, Cardinal Ranjith mentioned that approximately Rs 500 million was collected, with around Rs 460 million already distributed to the victims. He assured that all expenditures are backed by audited reports from bank accounts.

The Cardinal suggested that Sirisena might have been misled and noted the former president's current political challenges, which could be causing him stress. Despite the allegations, Cardinal Ranjith maintained a clear conscience and expressed no personal grievance.

Former President Sirisena had alleged that none of the funds received for the victims had been distributed and also questioned the whereabouts of the funds and demanded a detailed account from the Cardinal. Additionally, he complained about his current liability for compensation payments, despite having arranged government compensation during his presidency.