Cardinal says Easter Sunday attacks politically motivated

Archbishop, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said on Sunday that Easter Sunday carnage that shook the entire country was politically motivated.

"It was not due to religious fanaticism or extremism, but those elements were exploited by well organised political forces".

The Cardinal declared open two monuments at the Borella and Madampitiya cemeteries in commemoration of those who lost their lives on the Easter Sunday of 2019. At least 275 died due to senseless killings in three churches and three hotels. The suicide attackers allegedly had links to Islamist extremists.

The Cardinal said that it was not due to love for the religion but manipulated by certain forces who wanted to consolidate political power. The Cardinal, however, stopped short of naming them.