COLOMBO, June 4 -- Several opposition political and religious leaders have accused the government of attempting to implicate former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks for political purposes, allegations the government has not publicly responded to.

The claims were made during a meeting of opposition leaders and Buddhist clergy held at Nalandaramaya Vihara in Nugegoda to discuss recent political developments, including a court-imposed overseas travel ban on Rajapaksa and ongoing investigations linked to the Easter Sunday bombings.

Among those attending the meeting were Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena; Ranjith Madduma Bandara, General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Ba...