Sri Lankan Catholics for an undivided country, says Archbishop

by E.Weerapperuma

Sri Lankan Catholics are for an undivided country, Colombo Archbishop Rt.Rev. Dr.Oswald Gomis said. "Our stand is very clear that we are for a undivided country. This is the view of the Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka," he said.

Meeting a delegation of the Association of Private Secretaries of Ministers at the Archbishop's House, Borella on Friday, His Lordship said while the country should be one State, there could be some sort of decentralisation to meet the hopes and aspirations of the minor communities specially the Tamil and Muslim communities in the North and East.

"All our Bishops including those from Tamil and Muslim dominated areas in the North and East want to live in peace and harmony in an undivided country. In order to do justice to the Tamil and Muslim community, some sort of decentralisation is welcome," he said.

He said people seem to get upset whenever the word federal- ism is used with reference to a form of Government that might be useful to Sri Lanka.

"If one looks at other countries, some have federal Governments. What is necessary is to select a federal form of Government that suits us."

Asked about his stand on the holding of the next Presidential Election, he said it was a matter for legal experts and that issue needed to be studied well before commenting.

He said although Italy has changed her Governments over 40 times within 50 years, the country was prosperous because the country had a national policy which was implemented by the State officials who carry on with the work despite political changes in the country, for they want the country to develop.

"A time has come for us to think of the development of the land and her people whatever Government is in power.

"That is the duty of the State officials," he said.

There should not be difference but unity must be upheld for the country to prosper".

Referring to the proposed Anti-Conversion Bill, His Lordship said if that sort of Bill becomes law, no one would be able to talk with each other as a third party could file action giving twist to it. "This will call us to keep filing court action or be in Courts all the while".

Archbishop Gomis said the Catholic Church will not try to convert anyone promising worldly benefit.

If some one is converted by offering him/her something to change his or her religion that sort of conversion was not valid according to Church law.

"We know that there is a movement to convert people and it is grossly affecting the Catholic Church, as these movements pay attention more to convert Catholics than anybody else and we are opposed to such moves".

The Archbishop explained that Sri Lankan Catholics are indigenous and has the utmost interest of the country's well being.

"There is a tendency to blame Catholics of this country and some seem to be thinking about us as non-citizens and who are controlled by outside forces. This is a misconception. We are Sri Lankan in every sense of the word.

We have the same love and feeling for our country like anybody else.

The complainants either do not know the history or appear to be unaware of the history. Without going very far if one were to look at the last lap of the foreign power and the National Movement to win independence, one would see the Catholics and Christians contribution," the Prelate said.

Commending the aims of the Association, Archbishop Gomis said what matters was to serve the country whether one party was in power or out of power.

Association Secretary Ajith Jayasundara said they had formed the Association with the hope of helping those in authority to do a better job.

"There has been a similar organisation in the past. But that died down with the change of administration. We wish to stay united and serve the community whether we are in the government or in the Opposition," he said.

Association's President Udyama Niyathapala, Treasurer Kumaradasa Giribawa and members of its exco were also present.