Sri Lanka today marked the sixth anniversary of the deadly Easter Sunday terror attacks with solemn memorial services and renewed calls for justice.

Special services were held at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade and St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Kotahena. A procession between the two churches led to partial road closures in the Foreshore area from 7:00 AM to 11:45 AM. The main ceremony was presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, who led prayers attended by families of victims and the public. During his remarks, Cardinal Ranjith said that 167 victims were posthumously declared “Heroes of Faith” by the Vatican.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at a rally in Polonnaruwa yesterday, called the attacks the greatest tragedy used to seize power and accused past governments of shielding the masterminds. He said, in six months’ time, the current government will have taken steps to ensure justice, including handing over the Commission of Inquiry’s report to the CID.

Muslim organisations also issued a joint statement condemning the attacks, rejecting extremist violence, and urging accountability while decrying unjust detentions under anti-terror laws.

The coordinated bombings on April 21, 2019, killed over 260 people and injured more than 500 in one of Sri Lanka’s worst terrorist attacks.