Catholics express strong objection Sri Lanka President’s Political speech at Madhu Shrine

President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing Catholic bishops, priests, nuns, and thousands of Mary devotees after the Eucharistic celebrations at Our Lady of Madhu Shrine in the Diocese of Mannar district of Sri Lanka on Aug. 15 made a thick political speech. Catholics have criticized President’s attempt to gain political mileage by attending the very popular annual Marian feast mass. Also, they asked, “Who invited him?”

After the feast mass, President announced several mega development projects in Mannar district for Tamils to address trauma left by the 26-year-old civil war and said also the feast of Madhu should be considered a ‘National festival’.

From every corner, especially through social media raising up strong criticism from the Catholic faithful to the President and also to the church hierarchy “why the church gave this opportunity to a culprit  who is silence for the fate of Easter Sunday victims, and how come he , the President spoiled  the Holy Alter making dirty promises trying to gain political mileage.” Catholics accused.

Father Jeevantha Peiris a Catholic Priest and activist first expressed his displeasure through his Facebook and said that he condemn vehemently for having used most Holy Alter of Madhu Church for a Political Platform.

And Father said, ” Please, keep the politicians out of the church.The church is not a place for Politicians to be used in order to cheat innocent people. This is relevant to all politicians of all the Political parties.” he said.

Then Thilina Alahakoon, Convener of the Coalition of Catholic Lay Organizations also issued a statement expressing its protest and said, “We express our opposition to all those who gave the opportunity to the president to make use of the holy altar for his political projects,” it stated.

Thilina Alahakoon, who was present at the feast reminded that Wickremesinghe was not willing to ensure justice for victims of the Easter Sunday bombings, which took place when he was the prime minister, killing 273 and injuring many others.

“We feel that Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government is still covering up the facts regarding the Easter bombings. It is a well-known secret that he is protecting politicians and officials involved to maintain his power, and is undermining, covering up, and slowing down the investigations,” said Thilina Alahakoon.

He also said that , It was clear from the behavior and conversation of all the devotees present that the president’s political speech was not at all appropriate for such a religious event. “The devotees who applauded twice for the statue of Our Lady of Marada Madu did not applaud or respond to the president’s speech in any way. This is evident by the displeasure of the faces about it.” he added.

“The first citizen of the country should know that political speeches full of electoral promises are not suitable for religious places,” said the Gnanartha Pradeepaya (lamp of wisdom), a Sinhala language Catholic official newspaper in the editorial on 20th of August. (Normally the Newspaper is delivered on Friday noon.)

“The President’s speech was “purely political.” said the editorial.

“Many people are of the opinion that the President’s speech is a violation of the spiritual meditation and prayer life of pilgrims, and it is clear that his political speech should not have been included,” said the oldest existing Sinhala publication in Sri Lanka.

“We are of the view that politicians should not be allowed to appear or give speeches during religious services in any of our places of worship,” said the editorial.

“The President should have made sure not to speak in such a way as to destroy the inner spiritual environment of the devotees who gathered with devotion and prayer at the main Catholic shrine, which was the object of devotion of the entire Sri Lankan people.”

“With the aim of not happening such unfortunate and Inappropriate incidents in future kept this note.” ended the editorial.

On this criticism of the President and the Madhu shrine, many Catholics said that “there is no issue of visiting the shrine, attending the holy mass or worshiping by policies, but the very wrong thing is taking chance to make political speeches and trying to implement their agendas at any Shrine or church. It is the responsibility of the church leaders to stop this trend.” told several who talked to Mojo News.