Sri Lanka to launch new probe into allegations of Easter bombings in 2019

Minister says Cabinet proposed forming parliamentary committee to probe allegations made by UK media outlet that cited whistleblowers pointing fingers at officials involvement in 8 blasts

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – The Sri Lankan government has announced that it will conduct new investigations into the allegations made by whistleblowers in a video broadcast by a British TV channel about the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed hundreds of people.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said the Cabinet has proposed forming a special parliamentary committee to investigate the allegations, the local English website NewsWire reported.

In a report, Channel 4 claimed that it had "exclusive interviews with high-placed whistleblowers" who claimed that some Sri Lankan government officials were complicit in the deadly bombings.

Nanayakkara further said the government may seek international assistance to investigate Channel 4 claims.

"It is common practice for Channel 4 to publish such videos close to United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions held in Geneva," the minister was quoted as saying.

However, he added that the allegations "must" be investigated.

On Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, eight explosions targeted different locations in and around Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, killing over 250 people.

Kaynak: