The Catholic Bishop Conference in Sri Lanka informed President Ranil Wickremesinghe that Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, being the Archbishop of Colombo, is not sui generis’ (existing alone), but he is an integral and most vital member of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Sri Lanka.
The Catholic Bishop Conference in Sri Lanka, while referring to the interview the President had with Deutsche Welle News, said that any reference to the cardinal by the President in a singular manner undermines the collegiality of the Catholic Bishop Conference.
“Our attention is drawn to the recent interview Your Excellency had with Martin Gak of Deutsche Welle News, wherein Your Excellency repeatedly reiterated that your dealings with the Catholic Church were with the Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka and not with the Cardinal”, the letter signed by the President of the Catholic Bishop Conference in Sri Lanka, Rt. Rev. Harold A. Perera, said.
The letter was signed by bishops of the twelve dioceses of Sri Lanka, auxiliary bishops, and Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.
The Catholic Bishop Conference in Sri Lanka also requested that the President share with them copies of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the British Police, the Australian, the Indian, the Chinese, and the Pakistan secret services reports as divulged by the President during the interview.
“In furtherance of the same, the president further stated in the interview that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the British Police, the Australian, the Indian, the Chinese, and the Pakistani secret services have given reports concerning the attacks”.
The letter said that this fact has been brought to the attention of the general public as well as the Bishop Conference for the first time. In these circumstances, it would be appreciated if Your Excellency could share with us copies of the said reports as well.
