Remembering the victims of the Easter attacks

• Protesters come together in prayer 

It’s been almost three years since a terrible tragedy struck Catholics in Sri Lanka, on a day that is meant to be sacred and blessed. What was once a celebration of life has now become a remembrance of lives taken away in an awful manner. The Easter bombings of 2019 left many homeless, destitute, and emotionally tortured; years later, many families are yet to recover from their loss and what they witnessed, and are also yet to receive answers or have justice served. 

This year, unlike the years before, these families did not mourn alone; their prayers and pleas were joined by the Sri Lankans at Galle Face – now dubbed “Gota-Go-Gama” – with tens of thousands of people screaming for answers and hosting vigils for those that left us. Ironically, what once caused a racial rift between the people of the country, has now brought us together – millions of Lankan citizens have come together as one powerful voice; all asking for an end to the years of torment and crises we’ve been forced to endure; all asking for answers to questions that remain unanswered; all asking for a semblance of peace and hope. 

This Easter, the country joined hands under the same prayer – a prayer for justice – for the victims of the Easter attacks, for those that died in queues for essentials, for those that disappeared without a trace after the war, for those whose livelihoods were stolen, and for those that were wronged by the people in power.

In remembrance of the victims and the families that were torn apart, protesters at Galle Face held a brief trilingual service. Families who had lost loved ones, victims who were injured by the bombings, and Sri Lankans who wished to stand by them in solidarity lit candles and prayed together in a moment of silence amidst the otherwise roaring crowds. A silent message echoed loudly yesterday (17) – we, as a country, have leagues yet to go to achieve true unity, but those forces that have always tried to separate us inadvertently helped us take several steps towards finally coming together. 

Yesterday, many religious leaders of all faiths came together to pray for the victims of one religion; yesterday, people came together to sing our national anthem in both Sinhala and Tamil; yesterday may have been a day of mourning, but it was also a clear sign of citizens trying to put their differences aside.

Sampath, once a father of two, but now a childless widow, spoke of the traumatic day of the attacks three years ago, describing the fear and dread of having to be told that his children’s bodies were destroyed and barely identifiable. 

“I could not go to church that day. I had some work to attend to urgently. Once I heard the news about the bombings, my body would not move – everything went blank and I could not hear, see, or make sense of anything,” he told us, eyes still unfocused, recalling events he visibly longs to forget, adding, however: “I will never forget, I will not forgive. I want justice for my wife and children – they went to pray to the Lord and I feel better knowing that they are in His arms, but I want those responsible to be held accountable.”

Sujeeka, who supported herself on crutches while trying to arrange the candles, also shared the same sentiment. Her legs were damaged by the blast and she has been unable to walk properly since. 

“The doctors told me my legs may never heal. My heart will never heal either, but I want others like me who have lost their people to this tragedy to heal –  today we come together in prayer and call for justice,” she said. 

Gesturing around to the people of all races and religions lighting candles and holding flowers for the same cause, Kumar, another who had lost family to the attacks, told us: “I don’t blame the Muslims. Look at us. We are coming together. Every community has a few bad eggs; it is also easy to put forward a scapegoat. Today, we stand together to call out those in power, those that could have prevented it, and those that we hold responsible for answers.”

It has been three years and these victims have not been granted peace; perhaps this Easter, we will finally move towards righting the grave injustice that has been committed against them.