ECONOMYNEXT – Two prominent clergymen in Sri Lanka on Thursday (12) expressed opposition to the widely speculated appointment of United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, claiming that it would be contrary to the wishes of the people.
Chief Sanghanayake in the Sri Lanka Amarapura Sec Omalpe Sobitha Thero and head of Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith expressed their opposition to the proposed appointment Thursday evening mere minutes before it was speculated to be due.
Both clergymen said the appointment would be unconstitutional and not in line with the demands of the protestors who have been campaigning for an end to Rajapaksa rule. The cardinal warned that appointing Wickremsinghe would lead to further unrest in the country. Analysts, however, say Wickremesinghe can be legally made PM if he can show support in parliament.
Wickremesinghe’s critics insist he is sympathetic to the Rajapaksa family.
Sobitha thero said the former prime minister’s return would not reflect the wishes of the people as he was rejected at the 2020 parliamentary polls. The UNP didn’t win a single seat at the election, with Wickremsinghe occupying the party’s sole national list seat.
The monk said the demand is for an all-party interim government.
However, he spoke favourably of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa’s bid for the premiership, despite the latter having softened his stance with regard to the president’s resignation, a demand his party had been insisting on.
Meanwhile, opposition Janatha Vimukth Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaking to reporters after a meeting with Sobitha thero said Wickremesinghe serves the interests of the Rajapaksas and that they look out for each other.
His appointment would be an attempt to protect the Rajapaksa family who the people have completely rejected, he said.
“Gotabaya trusts Ranil. Ranil trusts Gotabaya. But the people of this country doesn’t trust these conspiracies, this palace intrigue,” he said. (Colombo/May12/2022)
Good. The person clergymen oppose can be the best person for a crisis
After all how many dollars can O’Malpe and O’Malcolm bring? RW can at least ask the Japanese for a grant based on his Uncle connect……
Cardinal nor Buddhit clergy does not give us anything to eat.
Get lost from politics both of you
Why don’t these Clergy mind their own busines close to their temples. Their business are in Temples & not in Politics.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith (piyathumanee), you are just screaming in the political wilderness of Sri Lanka.
Clergies should “NOT” dabble in politics. Your involvement and engagements with the JVP/NPP gang and “Anti-Sri Lanka” groups and your planned visits to certain capitols and engagements with interested groups who were craving for “Regime Change” in Sri Lanka since 2005 in recent months has revealed your vicious intentions, though you are a leading religious of a religious denomination in Sri Lanka. Your public statements and press conferences using your position as the Cardinal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is also partly the reason for this chaotic political and social disaster that has taken place in Sri Lanka history. You are vey much to be blamed for the present calamity that the humble people of our “Maathruboomiya” are facing.
It is better for you now, like as you had connived with interested political groups to demand PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to leave the office of PM, which he had obliged, to “LEAVE” the political game field where you have been active/rather leave the Cardinalship and make room for a new face to lead the Catholic community in Sri Lanka.
Noor Nizam – Peace and Political Activist, Political Communications Researcher, SLFP/SLPP Stalwart, Patriotic Sri Lanka Citizen.