The Archdiocese of Colombo has reaffirmed its commitment to seeking justice for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, while making clear that it does not support the imposition of the death penalty.
In a statement, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said the Archdiocese remains in “total solidarity” with the victims and their families and continues to seek the identification of the mastermind or masterminds behind the attacks, as well as all individuals and groups associated with them.
The Archdiocese also called for continued efforts to prevent organised and extremist attacks targeting places of worship and other public locations. It stressed that the authorities have a responsibility to take every possible measure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
However, the Archdiocese said capital punishment is inadmissible under Paragraph 2267 of the revised 2018 Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that the death penalty is contrary to human dignity under the Church’s current teaching.
Accordingly, the Catholic Church does not support the imposition of the death penalty, the statement said.
At the same time, the Archdiocese stressed that it has full confidence in the independence of Sri Lanka’s judiciary and does not intend to interfere with the court’s deliberations or decisions.
The statement further emphasized that the Catholic Church does not seek revenge, but justice and accountability through lawful means. It referred to the teachings of former Pope St. John Paul II, who called for forgiveness while stressing the need to uphold justice, accountability and public order through established legal systems.
The Easter Sunday attacks on April 21, 2019, targeted churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, killing more than 250 people and injuring hundreds of others. The attacks remain one of the country’s most significant security and accountability issues, with continued calls from victims’ families and religious leaders for a full investigation into those responsible.
