COLOMBO (UCAN): Religious leaders called on the Sri Lankan government to reconsider the state of emergency and not restrict people’s rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith of Colombo has also appealed for peace as clashes broke out after the resignation of prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, amid a worsening economic crisis.
“We urge the people to respond peacefully on our religious principles and without resorting to violence,” Cardinal Ranjith said, adding, “We must act non-violently and not attack people.”
Rajapaksa resigned on May 9 following a night of peaceful protests that turned violent. as the ancestral house of the Rajapaksa family in the southern city of Hambantota was set on fire by the protesters.
His younger brother, the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had declared a state of emergency beginning at midnight May 6 after a crippling strike and protest over Sri Lanka’s economic crisis [Sunday Examiner, April 24]. Sri Lankans have accused both men of mishandling the crisis.
“We strongly condemn the barbaric acts, which are totally unacceptable in a civilized and democratic country,” Cardinal Ranjith said, observing that pro-government mobs were being transported in buses from various parts of Sri Lanka to attack peaceful protesters.
“We express our opposition to the former prime minister,” the cardinal said even as pro-government supporters gathered in the prime minister’s office in Colombo and engaged in chants asking him not to resign.
Speaking before the announcment of Rajapaksa’s resignation, Father Amila Jeevantha Peiris, said, “We want to tell the entire world that the present government uses emergency laws to silence the voice of the people.”
He said, “It is a massive struggle of Sri Lankan citizens against the dictatorial tyranny of the Rajapaksa regime.”
Father Peiris said the struggle challenges government parties to step down and leave power.
He claimed the government was threatening freedom of expression. “It’s a citizen’s right,” he said. “We continue our protest against all the government efforts to silence the voice of the people.”
The Sri Lankan government said the state of emergency was declared to ensure political stability, which is a vital condition in overcoming the socioeconomic crisis and to assure public safety and uninterrupted supply of essential services.
Nagasthenne Aruna Thera, a Buddhist monk, said that instead of pursuing their own ambitions, the Ragjapaksa regime should listen to the voices of the people.
“Don’t try to stop these peaceful protests of the people by imposing emergency laws,” he said.
