PRESS RELEASE Muslim Council of Sri Lanak

The Muslims of Sri Lanka stand in solidarity and brotherhood with the thousands of Christians
and Catholics who were affected by the dastardly terrorist attack on April 21st 2019. The
suspected terrorists were Muslims by name but Islam forbids suicide and killing innocent
civilians, hence Islam does not condone such acts of violence.

Overnight on April 21st 2019, the 2.1 Million Muslims in this country were considered as
terrorist suspects or their sympathisers. The Muslims have stood by the Catholic church in
demanding an independent inquiry to the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, which many believe
is a politically motivated violence. We call upon H E President Ranil Wickramasinghe to release
all volumes of the PCOI report on the Easter Sunday attack to the general public. We also
demand the immediate arrest and bring to justice all who have been named in the PCOI report.
The arbitrary arrest of Muslim youth under PTA and ICCPR and the detention of some of them
continues to this day. No one has been found guilty after 4 years of investigation. The selective
use of PTA and ICCPR on innocent Muslim youth should be condemned by all civic conscious
citizens.

President Wickremesinghe in a special statement made on 18th July 2022 as Acting
President said he plans to obtain the assistance of the police and intelligence
services of the UK in order to complete the investigation into the Easter Sunday terror
attacks, as the lack of a proper investigation has meant that this issue is yet to be fully
resolved.” He had further said We must ensure that this is brought to an end, and there
should be a full scale impartial review of the material that is available.”

It is regrettable that nine months have lapsed since the above statement and we are yet to see
any meaningful effort by the Government to bring to justice the perpetrators of one of the
darkest days inSri Lankan history where over 350 were killed and over 500 were injured.
The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka calls upon the Government to: –
a. Immediately honour the statement made by President Wickramasinghe on 18th July
2022 to complete the investigation into the Easter Sunday terror attacks with the
assistance of Scotland Yard.
b. Immediate justice to be dispensed and compensation to be paid to the families of those
killed and injured in the Easter Sunday attacks irrespective of their race or religion.
c. Muslims arrested on suspicion under the PTA languishing in remand be investigated
immediately and released or granted bail.
d. A thorough investigation be carried out and arrest of those responsible for the wanton
destruction of Muslim property and compensation paid immediately in the aftermath of
the Easter Sunday attacks.

Hilmy Ahamed
Acting President
21/4/2023