National Freedom Front leader and Member of Parliament Wimal Weerawansa alleged that the country’s current Justice Minister previously acted as legal counsel for Zahran Hashim, widely identified as the mastermind behind the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.
Addressing a public rally in Ratnapura, Weerawansa claimed that Harshana Nanayakkara, who now heads the Justice Ministry, had traveled to Batticaloa in the past to represent Hashim in legal proceedings. The opposition parliamentarian described the situation as deeply troubling, arguing that entrusting the justice portfolio to a lawyer who defended the alleged architect of one of the country’s deadliest terror attacks raises serious ethical and political questions.
The Easter Sunday attacks of April 2019, carried out against churches and luxury hotels, killed more than 250 people and injured hundreds, sending shockwaves through Sri Lanka and the international community. The bombings exposed lapses in intelligence coordination and triggered sweeping changes in national security policy. Years later, the tragedy remains a sensitive and emotionally charged issue in public discourse.
Weerawansa told supporters that while it is a fundamental principle of law that every suspect is entitled to legal representation, elevating a former defense lawyer of Hashim to the post of Justice Minister creates a perception problem for the government. He argued that such an appointment undermines confidence in the administration’s commitment to justice and national security.
The MP contrasted the alleged background of the Justice Minister with what he described as the mistreatment of intelligence officials who played significant roles in safeguarding the country. He singled out retired Major General Suresh Sallay, praising his contributions to national security and suggesting that individuals like him have faced undue pressure despite their service.
Beyond the specific claim regarding the Justice Minister, Weerawansa expanded his criticism to encompass broader concerns about the direction of the government. He accused the administration of weakening intelligence services and security forces, alleging that such moves are intended to appease elements of the LTTE diaspora. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, defeated militarily in 2009, continue to be a politically sensitive subject in Sri Lanka’s post-war landscape.
