THOUSANDS of Sri Lankans took to the streets of the capital today, demanding justice for the victims of Easter Sunday bomb attacks in 2019 that killed nearly 270 people.

The protesters demanded the government uncover the real conspirators behind deadly attacks on three churches — two Catholic and one Protestant — which included simultaneous suicide bombings during Easter celebrations on April 21 that year. 

Three tourist hotels were also targeted, killing 42 foreigners from 14 countries.

Thousands of people, dressed in black and white, formed human chains for a silent protest on both sides of the main road connecting Colombo with the country’s international airport. 

The protesters blamed the government for not taking adequate measures to deliver justice for the victims of the bombings and punish those responsible.

Many protesters displayed placards and banners that read “Until justice is meted out, we are watching,” “No justice delivered to victims so far” and “Where is the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attack?”

Two local Muslim groups, allied to fundamentalist organisation Islamic State, were accused of carrying out six near-simultaneous suicide bomb attacks, targeting worshippers at Easter services in three churches and tourists having breakfast at three popular hotels. 

The attacks killed 269 people and wounded 500 more.

Officials have charged dozens of people who allegedly received weapons training and participated in indoctrination classes from the two local Islamic extremist groups accused of carrying out the attacks. But, to date, there have been no convictions.

“Four years have gone, still no-one has been punished for this brutal attack. It is really disgusting. We need to know who are the real culprits and their motives,” said Ruwan Fernando, 47, who protested today.

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has been critical of the investigation into the bombings. Church leaders have repeatedly slammed the previous and present governments for their failure to bring the culprits to justice.

Sri Lanka’s top court ruled in January that inaction by then-president Maithripala Sirisena and four others led to the bomb attacks and ordered them to pay compensation for violating the basic rights of the victims and their families.

The Supreme Court also ordered Mr Sirisena to pay 100 million rupees (£250,000) from his personal funds. 

It also ordered the police chief, two top intelligence officials and the secretary to the Ministry of Defence at the time to pay a total of 210 million rupees (£520,000).