Sri Lanka Catholic Church will not go along with all plans and religious programs designed to mark the first year of Easter Sunday massacre scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, taking into consideration the prevailing COVID -19 condition in the country. This was announced by Colombo Archbishop, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.
Addressing the media conference, on Thursday, (16) at Archbishop House, Cardinal Ranjith invited all Catholics to be in their respective homes and to join spiritually in prayer and observe two minutes silence on Tuesday, April 21, around 8.45 am, the time the first bomb was blasted by the suicide bombers. We also invite everyone to light a candle and offer merit to the departed.
“ I invite the Government and other relevant bodies and institutions to join in remembering those killed”.
His Eminence requested all Catholic Churches in the Archdiocese and all dioceses around the country to ring Church bells around 8.40 am, and invited other religious places and Buddhist temples in the country to do the same in remembrance of all those who were killed, on Easter Sunday. While among those killed, the majority were
Catholics and Christians attending the religious services held on Easter Sunday, there were also others belonging to all races and religions killed in Hotels in Colombo. They are our brothers and sisters, the Archbishop reminded.
In response to a question raised by the media about the ongoing process of
investigating and taking suspects for questioning on the Easter Sunday bombing, His Eminence said: “We appreciate the process taken. It is correct and that is our stand. The process has moved to take out what is kept under the carpet.”
Elaborating, the Archbishop said: “If somebody in some way supported, assisted and encouraged them by giving money and moved them to influence the bombers to commit this crime, that person or group that pushed the killers to commit the crime, are far more dangerous than the actual killers, for they can organize and act in a similar way on the next day. If we let them alone, they will keep plotting and get other groups to commit crimes. It is important to expose those who are behind this heinous crime. We must
know the truth. We must find out the truth. It is also important to punish those responsible according to the law of the land. That process should continue.”
Responding to another question from the media on crime’s connection to politics, His Eminence said it was immaterial. Whether the crime had any political connection or non-political colouring is not the issue. If a Catholic had something to do with the said crime, he should also be taken into custody and questioned. Religion and race have nothing to do with it”, Cardinal Ranjith said.