ASIA/SRI LANKA - "The Church is working with the population to build a better country," Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, new President of the Bishops' Conference, tells Fides

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, is now the new President of the Sri Lankan Bishops' Conference. He was elected yesterday by the Assembly of Bishops on the island. After his appointment, reflecting on the objectives and spirit of the Sri Lankan Church, at this delicate stage in the history of the country, Archbishop Ranjith said in an interview with Fides: "The Church has always been close to the population, carrying out her prophetic role and giving her contribution to building a better country, with a careful look at peace and reconciliation. In this spirit, we will continue in this work."
The Archbishop, careful observer of social and political affairs of Sri Lanka, in recent speeches has stressed the urgent need of working for the common good, inviting all citizens to “build a better country” and noting the need “not only for economic development, but also a state that is a just state." Also, this past April 15, for the traditional Buddhist New Year, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith took the opportunity to give a special blessing to the whole country, assuring his prayers for the development and harmony of the whole population.
His appointment comes on the day on which the Electoral Commission of Colombo published the final figures of the parliamentary elections on April 8. The party of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa won the elections, gaining a majority of 144 seats out of a total of 225 of the legislature. In second place, with 60 seats, was the People's National Party led by opposition leader Ranil Wikremasinghe. The Tamil State Party follows with 14 seats, and the National Democratic Alliance with 7, led by General Sarath Fonseka, former opponent of Rajapaksa in the last presidential race and now subject to court-martial.
In his message for the elections, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith appealed to the winners "to collaborate with the losers” and to the losers, “to be magnanimous enough to recognize they lost and work along with the winners to make Sri Lanka a better place for all citizens." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/4/2010)