Easter Sunday Tragedy: Call for Reform Over Narrative 📈

• Overview: Seven years after the 2019 attacks, Sri Lanka faces a dual challenge of "terrorist iconography" (online glorification of extremists) and "political iconography" (the use of national trauma for political leverage). The discourse highlights a shift from seeking justice to managing public perception. • National Security & Institutional Gaps: • Security is often treated as a slogan rather than a professional system. • Delays in truth and justice have allowed conspiracy theories and political manipulation to fill the institutional vacuum. • Critical failures include missed intelligence warnings and a lack of inter-agency coordination. • Proposed Strategic Reforms: • Intelligence Reform: Substantial investment in lawful counter-terrorism mechanisms and inter-agency synergy. • Transparency: Complete disclosure of pre- and post-attack failures to restore public confidence. • Community Engagement: Sustained efforts to prevent radicalization without stigmatizing specific faith communities. • Economic & Social Impact: The persistent politicization of the attacks hinders national healing and risks public cynicism toward genuine security threats. Moving beyond "symbolic theater" is framed as essential for a stable, mature state. _Note: Summary based on an analysis by a former senior law enforcement official._