Cardinal says he cannot be silenced

Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday (20) said that destruction of public property couldn’t be condoned under any circumstances.

Taking part in the annual celebrations at the St. Sebastian’s church, Katuwapitiya, the scene of Easter Sunday carnage, two years ago, the Cardinal said he couldn’t be silenced by any power.

Declaring that St. Sebastian hadn’t been scared of death, the Archbishop said that he, too, was not scared of death. He assured that he would represent the interests of the community whatever the circumstances. Referring to the ongoing attacks on him in social media, the Archbishop said that he wasn’t worried about such criticism made on minor matters.

All Sri Lankans should act according to their conscience and not be divided in terms of their religions and ethnicities, the Cardinal said, adding that what was important was doing the right thing not whether a person representing a particular political party, a religion or ethnicity did it.

The Church leader said that as a nation and a country Sri Lankans’ conscience was gradually dying because communities were trapped in their identities. He said he had taken a tough stand since the Easter Sunday attacks and would carry out his duty by the community.