Thu Mar 06 13:15:43 UTC 2025: ## Sri Lanka’s Wickremesinghe Faces Tough Questions on Presidency, Easter Bombings, and Rajapaksa Accountability
**COLOMBO, SRI LANKA** – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe faced intense scrutiny in a recent debate with journalist Mehdi Hasan, addressing his controversial presidency, the handling of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, and accusations of shielding the powerful Rajapaksa family from accountability.
Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency amidst mass protests and economic turmoil following the flight of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, defended his record. He highlighted the negotiation of a crucial bailout package as a key achievement. However, Hasan challenged him on his administration’s violent response to protests and allegations that the establishment, including Wickremesinghe himself, had overlooked war crimes and widespread corruption.
The debate, which included commentary from Frances Harrison (former BBC Sri Lanka correspondent and author), Nirj Deva (former UK and EU MP), and Madura Rasaratnam (executive director of PEARL), focused heavily on Wickremesinghe’s response to the 2019 Easter bombings and his efforts – or lack thereof – to hold the Rajapaksa family accountable for their alleged role in the country’s economic crisis and human rights abuses. Critics argue that Wickremesinghe’s ties to the establishment have hindered meaningful reforms demanded by protesters.
The interview provides a critical examination of Wickremesinghe’s leadership during a turbulent period in Sri Lankan history and raises important questions about justice, accountability, and the future of the nation.
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