Catholic Church not for any candidate

• Says people should elect a suitable candidate to lead  the nation

By Yohan Perera   

The Catholic Church will not support any candidate who is  contesting for the presidency this year, Head of Communications  Committee Archdiocese of Colombo Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said  yesterday.   

“Church does not engage in party politics. We therefore  leave it to the people to decide to elect a suitable candidate to lead  the nation,” Fr. Fernando told Daily Mirror. 

“However, we tell all candidates what we have to tell them whenever they come and meet us,” he added.   This comment comes from Fr. Fernando despite reports in  social media that Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had  said the opposition leader is the man the nation needs at this hour.     

“Mr. Premadasa met Cardinal Ranjith, the Auxiliary Bishops of  Colombo and Priests in Colombo on Sunday. We discussed the future probes  on Easter Sunday attacks. That does not mean that we accepted Mr.  Premadasa’s proposals,” Fr Fernando said.   

National People’s Power (NPP) Candidate Anura Kumara  Dissanayake met Cardinal Ranjith last week while SLPP candidate Namal  Rajapaksa also met him yesterday.   
“The Cardinal and the Bishops are willing to meet any candidate who wants to meet them,” he added.