The country needs a wise and brave leader to implement the long-needed system change to end corruption and its associated evils, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference urged presidential candidates to refrain from misleading the electorate by offering incentives, favours, and false promises in a statement released on Monday, April 26, with regard to the 2024 presidential election. They also urged candidates to investigate the organisers and supporters of their campaigns for any such behaviour.
“Catholic Bishops’ Conference advises candidates, voters”
The statement went on, “Those who break election laws cannot be trusted to govern the nation with integrity and justice.”As a result, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka encourages all eligible voters to cast their ballots in order to choose a government that will uphold moral and democratic values derived from the island’s four major religions while also honouring the people’s unique cultural traditions.
As religious authorities, we extend an invitation to the presidential contenders to draw strength from Jesus’ revered maxim, “not to be served but to serve” (Mk. 10:45). The statement continued, “It is an invitation to exercise power as service.”
“Invoking God’s blessings upon our beloved motherland, we kindly appeal to all concerned to conduct a free and fair Presidential election and thereafter work towards a united Sri Lanka.”
“We encourage our beloved followers to offer up prayers for the country, its welfare, and the discernment required for each and every one of our people to select the next leader of Sri Lanka with wisdom,” the statement continued.According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, voters must also express a desire for justice to be served following thorough investigations into the thievery of national property, politically motivated kidnappings, murders, and disappearances, crimes committed during the protracted conflict in the North and East, civil unrest in the South, and the senseless massacre that was carried out on Easter Sunday, 2019, which included a horrifying bomb attack.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference declared that no one should be permitted to obstruct the pursuit of justice for the approximately 500 people who were hurt, some of whom were critically injured, and the 274 victims who were killed. All those responsible must be located and dealt with in accordance with national laws.
