New Archbishop tells world community:

Don’t isolate Sri Lanka

Chaminda Perera

*Brings blessings from Pope to President

*No endorsement for unethical conversions

*Christians for co-existence with other religions

New Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev Dr. Malcom Ranjith yesterday requested the international community not to isolate the country as such action would aggravate the sufferings of the people.

The new Colombo Archbishop was speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Colombo diocese on his appointment as the Archbishop of Colombo at the BMICH yesterday.

Rt. Rev Dr. Malcom Ranjith said the imposition of a political or economic embargo on Sri Lanka by the international community would serve no purpose and urged them to help Sri Lanka overcome the problems of the displaced Tamil people at this decisive moment. He said Pope Benedict XVI blessed President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his efforts to bring peace and prosperity to the country and remembered President’s Rajapaksa’s visit to the Vatican when he met the Holy Pontiff where he was asked to take over the assignment as the Archbishop of Sri Lanka.

“I firmly believed that I will be able to strengthen the hands of the President and other religious leaders who are striving to rebuild the country and decided to take over the task assigned by the Pope,” he said. “The Christian community in Sri Lanka has tremendously contributed to the development of country and they have actively been involved in the country’s liberation struggle” he said. He said Sri Lanka is closely intertwined with Buddhism and conversion to any religion by unethical norms would never be endorsed by him.

The Archbishop said their effort is to coexist with other religions and help the country’s progress . He stressed that their efforts are not aimed at converting the people from other religions to Christianity.

“The social and economic development of the country should take place in the country in a way that would not deteriorate the moral values of society. We have a duty to prevent the Tamil people from falling prey to separatist elements again” , he said.

The Colombo Archbishop added urgent action by all stakeholders including the people in the South is needed to heal the wounds of the displaced Tamil people. He said that all religions have faced a common problem due to the craze for material prosperity.

The new Colombo Archbishop said that there is no truth that Christianity came to Sri Lanka with the advent of the Portuguese to the country. “There are records that Sri Lanka had an Archbishop as far back in 1330 A.C. Chancellor of the Sabaragamuwa University Prof Kamburugamuwe Vajira Thera in his Anusasanawa said the newly appointed Colombo Archbishop took tremendous effort to promote amity and understanding among the religions. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the appointment of Rt Rev Dr. Malcom Ranjith as the new Colombo Archbishop will help promote moral values in socieity.

“The religious leaders have a duty to remove the fear psychosis among the people after the war on terrorism is over” ‘ he said.

Religious Affairs Minister Pandu Bandaranayake presented a special memento to the new Colombo Archbishop Rt Rev.Dr. Malcom Ranjith on this occasion. The Postal Department also issued a new postage stamp to mark the retirement of Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis yesterday. The First Day Cover was presented to the former Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev Dr. Oswald Gomis by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Former Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev. Oswald Gomis was also presented a special memento by Presdent Mahinda Rajapaksa in recognition of his service to Christians and the people of Sri Lanka on this occasion. Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, Export , International Trade and Acting Minister of Posts Prof. G.L. Peiris and Estate Management and Development Minister Milroy Fernando also participated. UNP Parliamentarians Jayalath Jayawardena, Ravi Karunanayake and Johnston Fernando were also present.