The Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has declined to meet Goverment Ministers until several conditions are fulfilled, said Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando.
The Cardinal has said that in order to win the confidence of the Catholic community and the public, the Government must implement the recommendations in the final report of the Presidential Commission on the Easter Sunday attacks.
Rev. Fernando said that the Foreign Minister had written to the Cardinal requesting for a meeting and the Cardinal has responded saying he is willing to meet provided certain conditions are met.
He said that in order to meet with Minister, the government needs to create a sense of trust first.
“One of our conditions is that the Government needs to commence the process of implementing the recommendations of the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the Easter Sunday Terror Attacks.
If these investigations and the implementation of the recommendations commences, then we can have some trust in the Government. Therefore, it is up to the Government to create that trust first and only they can do it by implementing these recommendations,” he said.
Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has informed the Foreign Minister in writing that the investigations into the Easter Sunday attack must be conducted in a manner that wins the confidence of the public.
Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando said that recent statements made by certain legal officials of the President’s office and the IGP regarding the Easter Sunday attacks, does not build confidence in the Government but instead it tarnishes the trust and faith that the Church has in the Government. “Therefore, it is the duty of the government to build that trust and confidence if they want to have any dialogue with the Cardinal. Once they have complied these conditions, then the Cardinal is willing to meet with the Foreign Minister or the Government.”
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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