The Catholic Church wouldn’t endorse the candidature of any contestant at the Sept. 21 presidential election, top spokesperson Rev. Father Cyril Gamini said yesterday (25).
Rev. Father Fernando said that their stand in respect of the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage is clear. Even six years after the heinous crime, justice hadn’t been served, the spokesperson said, adding that the Church expected whoever won the Presidential Poll to address their grievances.
Near simultaneous suicide attacks claimed the lives of over 270 people while nearly 500 received injuries.
Since the handing over of nominations on Aug. 15, Anura Kumara Dissanayake (JJB), Sajith Premadasa (SJB), Namal Rajapaksa (SLPP) and Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC (National Democratic Front) met the Archbishop of Colombo at the Bishop’s House whereas President Wickremesinghe called on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference over the weekend.
Responding to query, Rev. Father Fernando asserted that the Catholic Church instead of meeting selected candidates, the Archbishop felt the need to provide an opportunity for those contestants interested in making representations depending on the availability of time.
Altogether, 39 contestants submitted nominations. The majority of them are contesting as independents.
Rev. Father Fernando emphasized that they didn’t have absolutely any intention of promoting the candidature of any particular contestant. “The unpalatable truth is that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa conveniently failed to implement the major recommendations of his own Commission pertaining to the Easter Sunday carnage.