Cardinal’s statement, a welcome change

Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith told journalists on the Sarakku Beach the other day: ‘The biggest malady our society is afflicted with is the commissions earned by politicians through various deals. They take commissions from companies by depriving the people of their dues. Such money has blood on them and they would not do any good to those who take them.”

This could be considered a political statement criticising the government for selling state assets, and foreign interventions in the affairs of the country, although he has said his interest in seeking justice as regards the Easter Sunday carnage and not in politics. He spoke passionately about hardships fishermen face due to the pollution caused after the oil spill from the sunken ship X-Press Pearl. In fact, he has threatened to go before an international court to get redress if a satisfactory solution is not found by government to compensate the fishermen adequately and also clear the beaches. This welcome change gives added strength to those who agitate, especially the Buddhist monks to usher in a new era of democratic governance, to maintain law and order, peace and harmony, perhaps with new faces in Parliament at the next Presidential and general elections.

Whatever it be, his change should be appreciated by all irrespective of religion, cast creed, etc., casting away differences for the patriotic genuine stand taken in saving this country from further deterioration by politicians who are only concerned about their personal gains and corruption as correctly mentioned without any ambiguity by the Cardinal.

G. A. D. Sirimal