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Cardinal, Bishops urge MPs to elect President accepted by people

19 Jul 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera In view of the Parliamentary vote to be held tomorrow (20) to elect a President following the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has requested all MPs to not fall prey to corrupt practices such as buying MPs, and instead work to appoint a “leadership” that is free from greed and corruption, and is capable of fulfilling the people’s aspirations, a day after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka (CBCSL) emphasised that the governance of the country should not be handed over to rejected leaders and that the MPs should come to an agreement to appoint an interim President and Prime Minister who can win the trust of everyone, keeping aside political differences and other agendas. In a letter dated yesterday (18), addressed to all MPs, he mentioned that at a time when a President with all executive powers has left power and the country in the face of huge public opposition, the people and the international community are keenly watching the crucial decision to be taken by the MPs for the future of the country, as well as the people. “The people who have been patiently suffering for a long time, when there was nothing else to do, gathered in the capital and asked the President and the Government to give up power and bring about some comfort to the people. Accordingly, in a backdrop where it is even more clear for everyone as to what should and should not be done, there is a great fear among the people that the MPs would make a decision that is completely contrary to the public opinion,” the Archbishop added. He further said that the people who are suffering and tired from all sides were engaged in a peaceful struggle over the past few months, eagerly hoping to make a change in the corrupt regime, and particularly to create a “systemic change”, adding  that the responsibility of making the said change that the people want is now assigned to the MPs. “Sri Lanka as a country has now reached a point where one can do the highest service to the country not by seizing power but by voluntarily relinquishing power. What will you be doing as people’s representatives at this critical time? Do you return the victory you received from the people to the people at a very useful time or do you plan to hold onto that victory by force? Or are you going to be labelled as power-hungry politicians? For the sake of the country and the people, you can make one of these historic decisions,” the letter read. The Archbishop further noted: “At a time when the people are in an extremely oppressive situation and the country is suffering from acute economic, political, and social crises, the fact that everyone has not come together and chosen a common Presidential candidate and a Prime Minister reflects that the MPs have not yet understood the people’s aspirations. Therefore, at this critical moment, I request all the MPs to work towards electing a leadership free from corruption and greed and one that can achieve the aspirations of the people and the country, without falling prey to corrupt practices such as buying MPs.” Following the resignation of Rajapaksa on 14 July, the Parliament is now tasked with electing a MP as the next President through a Parliamentary vote, which is to be held tomorrow. Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-led National People’s Power Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Dullas Alahapperuma have announced their candidacy for the said post.


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