The ongoing investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka is facing renewed scrutiny as political figures accuse the government of bias and selective accountability. Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has publicly defended Maj. General Suresh Salley, a decorated military officer, arguing that he is being unfairly targeted despite his extensive service in the country’s decades-long fight against terrorism.
Rajapaksa emphasized that Salley’s reputation has been unfairly marred by fabricated narratives linking him to the attacks, while others cited for negligence in official commission reports, and now aligned with the ruling government, continue to receive high-level appointments without facing similar scrutiny. The MP described this discrepancy as “a clear case of hypocrisy” that threatens the credibility of the inquiry itself.
While expressing support for a transparent and impartial investigation, Rajapaksa warned that the current trajectory risks politicizing the process. Government-aligned voices, he argued, appear to be shaping public opinion against political opponents while steering the inquiry toward predetermined outcomes. Such actions, he noted, could undermine public trust in the justice system at a moment of sensitive geopolitical developments in the region.
Concerns were also raised about statements by some officials hinting at the involvement of foreign countries, which critics say could further politicize a matter that should remain strictly evidence-based and judicial. Rajapaksa stressed that the inquiry must focus on identifying and punishing the true perpetrators of the Easter attacks, free from political rivalry or geopolitical agendas, echoing broader calls for the government to uphold its promises of justice for victims and their families.
The debate over the investigation’s direction adds to ongoing tensions in Sri Lanka, highlighting the delicate balance between political interests, public accountability, and the pursuit of justice in one of the country’s most traumatic episodes in recent history.
