Catholics in Sri Lanka on Saturday hoisted black flags to protest the government’s failure to bring to justice those seen as responsible for failing to prevent a series of suicide bombings on Easter Sunday in 2019.

“We have been waiting for two years for a proper investigation into the bombings, but nothing has happened,” said Cyril Gamini Fernando, a spokesman for the church.

Catholics hoisted the flags at their homes, churches, and public places across the country after the head of the church in Sri Lanka, Malcolm Ranjith, called on the public to protest.

The bombings, carried out on April 21, 2019, targeted three churches and three hotels, killing some 271 people, most of them Catholics.

The church also organised prayer services on Saturday, with limited attendance due to a nine-day curfew to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The government appointed a presidential commission to probe the bombings and the former president Maithripala Sirisena and senior police officers in service at the time.

They were found responsible for failing to act on available intelligence reports. But, so far, no further action has been taken.

The intelligence reports provided by India had warned that Islamist groups would carry out bombings on churches.

Seven suicide bombers carried out the attack blamed on Islamist groups.

The government says 286 people are currently in custody, but only 32 persons have been charged in connection with the attack.

Some 7,600 persons were initially arrested and subsequently released.