Christian and Buddhist leaders urged radical change as Sri Lanka marked its 74th Independence Day. “Galloping corruption”, “shortsighted and unintelligent actions of political leaders,” at the centre of the controversy.
Newsroom (09/02/2022 8:50 PM Gaudium Press) Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo did not attend Sri Lanka’s official Independence Day ceremony on Feb. 4 because of the lack of “real freedom in the country.”
The announcement was made on Feb. 3 by Father Cyril Gamini, a member of the archdiocese’s committee on the search for the truth of the Easter Sunday attacks. Father Gamini said Cardinal Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, will also not hold the traditional Mass on the special occasion at All Saints Church in Borella.
The decision was taken “because a bomb had been planted in the church and innocent people were being tortured,” he said.
A grenade was discovered at All Saints Church on Jan. 11, three days before Catholics in Sri Lanka marked the 1,000th day since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. A caretaker of the church has been arrested in connection with the incident. Later a retired doctor was also arrested.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has been critical of the government over the investigations into the bombings, which he claims did not reveal the real conspiracy. He has also hinted that the grenade incident at the church could be politically motivated. He said there was no attempt by the police to uncover the truth behind the incident.
Christian and Buddhist leaders urged radical change as Sri Lanka marked its 74th Independence Day.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said more and more people are mired in poverty and becoming victims of a new sort of slavery due to the failings of political leaders.
“Due to the shortsighted and unintelligent actions of political leaders, past and present, leading to the spread of a spirit of deep division and mistrust among the different ethnic and religious groups, galloping corruption among those whom we have elected as our leaders and their manipulation of the rule of law to suit their own interests, people have begun to increasingly feel that independence has turned out to be a meaningless word.”
“If all of us commit ourselves to work for that transformation, it would be the best and most effective service we could render to our motherland.
“At a moment like this, what all those who truly love our homeland should do is to engage in a profound examination of conscience and to seek a total transformation of our society aiming to extricate our country from the effects of those decisions that led it on to this downward slide.”
Bishop Dushantha Lakshman Rodrigo, Anglican bishop of Colombo, said it is important to create a new constitution that represents all communities.
“People have to fulfill their responsibilities properly rather than delegating responsibilities to others.”
“Everyone should understand why Sri Lanka has not been able to achieve the economic, political and social progress achieved by many of the states that achieved independence during Sri Lanka’s independence,” said Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana Thera, chief prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter.
Meanwhile, Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera, leader of the Malwathu Chapter of the Siam Maha Nikaya, said it is necessary to put aside differences such as religion and politics and work in harmony and determination.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa remarked that as citizens of a free and democratic country, everyone has rights and responsibilities. And it is not appropriate to forget responsibilities and talk only about rights.”
“It is more timely to look for short-term as well as long-term solutions to the economic problems that the country is currently facing than to go back many years,” said Rajapaksa at the state ceremony.
“The president urges all members of parliament, ministers and other politicians to always set an example for the country. When you set that example to the people, the majority will support you.”
Via UCA News
(Compiled by Raju Hasmukh)