Sri Lanka: Christian priests and laity in silent protest against Rajapaksa’s power

Colombo – Priests, religious and nuns from the Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM) held a silent vigil to protest against President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s attempt to increase presidential powers and run for office a third time. This morning, about a hundred people gathered in front of the Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church in central Colombo where they recited the rosary, calling on Our Lady to protect the country. On a single banner, a slogan said, “We oppose a constitutional amendment that ignores the people”.

Review of President Rajapaksa’s proposed 18th amendment to the constitution began today in parliament. If adopted, it would give the president more powers; more importantly, it would abolish terms limitations so that he or she could run for the highest office as often as they wished.

Sister Rose Fernando, a Franciscan nun of Mary, was among those who took part in the CSM protest. For her, the government “should have first consulted the people. Such an amendment could destroy our democracy. . . . It could spell the end of our freedom.”

“At present, national reconciliation should be our priority,” she said, adding that the clergy’s participation in the protest is the Church’s way to show the people that it is on its side on this issue.

In the meantime, tensions are rising in the capital. Opposition parties, trade unions and media associations have already prepared demonstrations, which might clash with pro-Rajapaksa groups.

“The president is trying to take over together with his family,” said Dharmasiri Lankapeli, general secretary of the Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions. “We are in the streets to say that we do not want this amendment. It will destroy our democracy and the little freedom we still have.”

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, in a press release, said, “As spiritual guides of the Catholic community and concerned about the wellbeing of our people, irrespective of religious or cultural differences, we wish to affirm that in any amending of the constitution, the basic values of democracy, transparency and credibility of the different political and social institutions have to be maintained. In everything, the wellbeing and prosperity of our people as well as their human dignity and their freedom should not be sacrificed”.