Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has expressed his disappointment over the progress of the Criminal Investigation Departments investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks following the release of a suspect.

Riyaj Bathiudeen, the brother of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen who was arrested in April on suspicion of involvement in the terrorist attacks and held under detention orders, has been released, reports the Colombo Page newspaper.

The police said that he was released due to lack of evidence to prove charges against him.

Riyaj Bathiudeen has also been accused of setting up welfare societies and working with the bombers, holding official positions in those companies and of investing money in those companies.

Speaking at a media briefing in here on Saturday, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said he is disappointed over the release of Riyaj Bathiudeen without a trial.

"The victims of the Easter Sunday attacks are disappointed and saddened by the slow progress of the investigations and they are expecting that justice will be meted out to them," he said.

The Archbishop said what police said before arresting several suspects contradicts what they say now when suspects are released and this raises concerns in the CID investigations.

On April 21, 2019, three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo and the hotels -- Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand, Kingsbury and Tropical Inn -- in the capital city were targeted in the series of coordinated suicide bombings, which killed over 250 people and also injured more than 500 others.

Sri Lankan authorities attributed the attacks to little-known local Islamist extremist groups, National Thowheeth Jama'ath and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim.

However, the Islamic State terror group claimed the attacks.

(IANS)