Easter Sunday Warnings Were Ignored by Then Leadership, Says Ven. Baththaramulla Seelarathana Thera

02-Aug-2026

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Leader of the Janasetha Peramuna, Ven. Baththaramulla Seelarathana Thera, has claimed that he had issued written warnings as early as 2017 about the possibility of an Easter Sunday terrorist attack, but the country's political leadership and security authorities ignored them, resulting in the tragedy.

Speaking at a media briefing held at the party headquarters in Colombo on August 1, the Thera said justice had finally been delivered to the victims following years of protests by members of the Catholic clergy and the public.

He thanked the present Government and all those who had contributed to ensuring the implementation of the law.

The Thera stated that after receiving information about a possible terrorist attack in 2017, he returned from the United Kingdom and submitted written warnings to then President Maithripala Sirisena, former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando.

When no action was taken, he said, he visited the British High Commission with a journalist and handed over the warning letter, hoping the country's leadership would act to prevent such a disaster.

However, he alleged that the then President, Prime Minister, Defence Secretary and Inspector General of Police ignored the warnings. Had they responded appropriately, he said, the Easter Sunday attacks could have been prevented.

Referring to former IGP Pujith Jayasundara's reported remarks describing the incident as the result of "karma", the Thera rejected that explanation, saying the tragedy was instead the consequence of a failure to discharge official responsibilities.

He also questioned the conduct of former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara, former CID official Wickramaratne and current Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, alleging that their actions were suspicious and calling for them to be removed from office and investigated.