Former Minister Duminda Dissanayake has urged authorities to conduct proper investigations into former senior officials Ravi Seneviratne and Shani Abeysekara before identifying the masterminds and planners behind the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
Speaking to the media in Colombo on June 12, 2026, Dissanayake stressed the need to determine why authorities failed to prevent the attacks despite receiving prior intelligence warnings. He stated that investigators must uncover the circumstances that allowed the coordinated bombings to take place and examine the actions of those who held responsibility at the time.
Investigations Should Begin from Ground-Level Officers.
Dissanayake emphasized that investigators should start inquiries with intelligence officers who served in the areas where the targeted churches were located. He argued that authorities must then expand the investigation through every level of the intelligence structure and question all relevant senior officials.
According to him, a comprehensive inquiry would help establish accountability and reveal whether any failures occurred within the security apparatus before the attacks.
Questions Raised Over Independence of Current Inquiry.
Dissanayake also questioned the government’s handling of the ongoing investigation. He noted that the government initially announced plans to appoint an independent panel of officials to examine the Easter Sunday attacks.
However, he pointed out that a government minister recently told Parliament that the authorities appointed Shani Abeysekara and Ravi Seneviratne in response to requests made by the Cardinal and the Catholic Church.
As a result, Dissanayake argued that the current investigation risks losing its impartiality and may proceed under circumstances that create concerns about fairness and objectivity.
