Easter Sunday Probe Has Become a Political Football: Nalin Bandara

20-Jun-2026

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Nalin Bandara has alleged that the ongoing investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks have turned into a political football.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on June 19, he said remarks made in Parliament by Minister Bimal Rathnayake regarding the appointments of Shani Abeysekara and Ravi Seneviratne could be true.

He claimed that Shani Abeysekara’s activities had been curtailed during Suresh Salley’s tenure and that current developments appeared to indicate an attempt at retaliation against Salley.

Bandara stressed that personal vendettas and physical abuse should never be condoned. If Salley had committed any wrongdoing, he should be subjected to a lawful investigation and punished accordingly.

He further warned that if the Government failed to conduct the investigations properly, the situation could deteriorate to the extent that even the Cardinal might be accused of masterminding the attacks, creating conditions favourable for renewed religious and ethnic tensions.

Bandara urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Government to complete the investigation transparently within its term and reveal the true circumstances behind the attacks to the public.