Archbishop rejects secularisation ideology

Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said yesterday that they will not support any Constitutional reforms that seek to turn Sri Lanka into a secular or nonreligious state.

“We will never endorse the ideology of secularising Sri Lanka,”said the Archbishop. He said so at a Buddhist ‘Pujopahara’ ceremony held at Sambodhi Maha Viharaya at Gergory’s Road, Colombo 7, to pay tribute to newly elected Mahanayaka Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Dhamasiddi Pagnananda Gnanarathana Thera and Anunayaka Theras.

Referring to the concept of secularising as regards the Chapter two of the Sri Lankan Constitution, which was proposed by some members of the Public Representatives Committee on Constitutional Reforms, Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said Sri Lanka cannot achieve its envisioned human rights goals by removing religion.

“Religion is the basis for achieving the objective of human rights,” he said.

“We will not let anyone destroy the country’s culture or heritage by playing up the human rights card,”he said.

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith reiterated that irreligiousness will not help the country’s cause.

The Mahanayaka Theras of the Tri-Nikayas, Anunayaka Theras, Lekhadhikari Theras and Nayaka Theras of the prominent temples in the country were present.