The Archdiocese of Colombo has reaffirmed its pursuit of justice for 2019 Easter Sunday bombing victims while declaring its opposition to capital punishment on theological grounds.

The Archdiocese of Colombo has expressed continued commitment to seeking accountability for those responsible for the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, even as it formally opposes the imposition of death sentences. Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith stated that the church remains in "total solidarity" with victims and will persist in efforts to identify masterminds and all individuals involved in the bombings.

The church's stance is grounded in Catholic doctrine, specifically citing Paragraph 2267 of the 2018 revised Catechism of the Catholic Church, which holds that capital punishment is inadmissible as it violates human dignity. The Archdiocese emphasized that the Catholic Church therefore cannot support executions as a form of justice.

While maintaining its theological position against the death penalty, the church stressed its confidence in Sri Lanka's judicial independence and indicated no intention to interfere with court proceedings or verdicts. The Archdiocese also called on authorities to strengthen security at places of worship and other vulnerable locations to prevent future attacks.

The statement reflected Pope John Paul II's teaching on balancing forgiveness with accountability, with the Archdiocese emphasizing that pursuing justice need not require capital punishment. The church reiterated that legitimate justice can be pursued through established legal systems while maintaining public order and proper accountability measures.