Held yesterday, the ceremony was attended by several priests. Caritas Antoniana of Padua funded the housing project. "We are ready to forgive,” said Card Malcolm Ranjith, if the culprits admit their responsibility in the attacks.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Yesterday, the 2nd batch of the St Anthony Housing Project were delivered to 12 families victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
“If those responsible admit any omissions we are ready to forgive them," said Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo at the handover ceremony.
The houses were built in an area north of the capital and were financed by the Caritas Antoniana of Padua (Italy).
Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo Anton Ranjith, and Father Lawrence Ramanayake, head of Caritas Colombo, was present at the event as were numerous priests.
“This is a very happy moment," said Dharshani Weerapathran, a Tamil Catholic beneficiary. "We are really thankful to those who gave us this project in a peaceful place." “At the same time, I feel very sad about my beloved mother’s death as a result of the Easter Sunday bombings”.
"That day we were both attending Mass. I too suffered many injuries,” she explained. “My mother, then 75 years old, bled to death, while while I was in severe pain with a broken leg and burned injuries.”
For his part, Card Ranjith said: “Former President Maithripala Sirisena promised me that a transparent and independent investigation would be carried out into the attacks. When he received the report of the Commission of Inquiry, he asked me how to implement the recommendations."
"I replied that the president does not have to implement those recommendations; instead, he can hand them over to the police and the judiciary. He didn't reply to me. After that, the trust I had in him was shattered."
"We are ready to forget,” Cardinal Ranjith added, “but do not cover up for the culprits. Accept the truth if you want to escape Buddhist karma.”
On 21 April 2019, suicide bombers targeted several churches and three hotels, killing more than 250 people and wounding another 500.