Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Catholic Bishops calls for governance reform – Easter Message

States that Easter is being celebrated during a period of severe turmoil. Emphasizes urgency of reforming SL’s governance to alleviate the suffering of its people. Urges authorities to deliver justice to Easter Sunday terror attack victims.

The Catholic Bishops Conference in Sri Lanka (CBCSL) in its Easter message has called for a change in Sri Lanka’s governing system to address the many social, economic, and political crises gripping the nation at present.

“Easter is being celebrated at a time when the country is facing a severe social, political, and economical crisis. It is essential to bring in a major change to the country’s governing system to ease the people’s suffering. It is the responsibility of all citizens to work towards bringing this change,” the message said.

“We celebrate Easter at a time when the country is facing a crisis which it had never faced before. Easter is the sacred mystery and climax of Christian belief. Let us ask the risen Lord to help us overcome the crisis we are facing at the moment.” Bishops request.

The CBCSL Easter message also reflected on the Easter Sunday attacks of five years ago, expressing solidarity with the victims and their families while urging authorities to deliver justice. “It has been five years since the Easter Sunday mayhem where more than 275 people were killed and scores became patients. We request the authorities to be close to the hearts of these suffering people and mete out justice to them,” the Conference urged.

The CBCSL statement signed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka President Bishop Harold Anthony Perera and General Secretary Bishop J.D. Anthony Jayakody further said, “Easter is the sacred mystery of Christian. We reach climax of this belief when we celebrate Easter. We renew the statement made by first followers of Christ  ‘Jesus is alive’ during Easter. We say Jesus is living among us with great happiness. Jesus defeated death and sin through his resurrection. He is the cornerstone of Easter celebrations. Let us get away from sin and love one another and invite Jesus to live among us,”

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Police is organizing a special security plan  in place at churches across the country in view on the Good Friday and Easter Sunday, as per the instructions of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon.

Accordingly, the police chief has given directives to all officers including the Senior Deputy Inspectors General of Police (SDIGs), DIGs and officers in charge (OICs) of police divisions.

The OICs are instructed to meet with the priests and boards of trustees of churches to prepare security plans tailored to each church while the Holy Masses are in progress from 29 – 31 March, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said commenting on the matter.

Under this security plan, the church premises would be inspected before the commencement of the sermons in a manner that does not disturb the devotees.

END.