In a passionate address to a gathering of Catholic media personnel yesterday, Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith called upon the Government to take immediate action in fulfilling its promises to the people, stressing the importance of protecting media freedom, human dignity, and the independence of the nation.
Asserting that the people voted for the current Government with the expectation of change, Cardinal Ranjith urged the Government to honour its promises and ensure media freedom, dignity for individuals, and a new vision for the country. “The people voted for this Government to change this system. If this isn’t happening, we have to rethink. I request the Government to do good on their promises and ensure media freedom, give dignity to the individual and create a new outlook for the country.”
The Cardinal also called for an end to the culture of media suppression and the erosion of human dignity and independence, demanding a shift towards a new ideology in Sri Lanka. “Finish off the culture which surrendered media freedom, human dignity and independence. Bring about a new ideology in Sri Lanka. That is why we gave you power. Change the laws as necessary. Don’t take too much time. If you have been given power, then use it to make the changes. Clean Sri Lanka and work to build a true democratic Sri Lanka,” he said.
Referring to the unsolved atrocities against journalists such as Prageeth Ekneligoda, Keith Noyahr, and Lasantha Wickramatunge, Cardinal Ranjith condemned the continued lack of justice for these victims. “Humanity collapsed through these actions,” he said, adding that political leaders were behind these crimes. “Even today, there is no justice for these acts, and I don’t know if the current Government is looking into these properly.”
He also highlighted the unfulfilled promises made by various political leaders who had governed the country, particularly in relation to the Easter Sunday terror attacks. “Various leaders gave us promises but never kept them,” he said. “The same fate has befallen the Easter Sunday terror attacks, where justice is still a distant dream.”
The Cardinal said that successive leaders have stoked racism in society to maintain power, a tactic that has been employed since independence. “Using racism and ultra-nationalism, our leaders made Sri Lankans into virtual slaves,” he added.
Cardinal Ranjith referred to the Batalanda report, which exposes the history of corruption, the suppression of media freedom, and the dark chapters of enforced disappearances and killings. He expressed concern that the previous Government had attempted to pass laws that would curtail media freedom, preventing citizens from even voicing their opinions. “Had those laws passed, people wouldn’t have been able to utter a word,” he said.
Criticising the partisan mindset within Sri Lankan society, the Cardinal noted how such biases have seeped into media institutions, resulting in disservice to the public. “This partisan mindset is common in media institutions as well, causing a disservice to the public,” he said. “We didn’t even bother reading certain newspapers during the last regime.”
Emphasising the importance of media freedom in societal progress, Cardinal Ranjith said, “Protecting media freedoms will help progress society towards peace, security, and harmony.”
In his call for justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, Cardinal Ranjith expressed frustration over the lack of action, saying, “We are not silent. We are waiting for justice. We gave you power, and we are waiting for you to use that power and carry out a proper investigation to answer the question of what really happened, without striking deals.”
With the anniversary of the attacks approaching, he demanded answers and justice before the six-year mark. “Before that anniversary, we demand indicators of answers and justice. Otherwise, you leave us no choice but to get out on the streets. There is no alternative.” he said.
