Cardinal hails youth, peaceful protestors; urges Govt. to go home

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith yesterday hailed youth and their peaceful protests as an inspiration to the country and urged the Government and present rules 

to go home.

Speaking to protestors at Gotagogama last evening, Cardinal said the country’s leadership must be given to young capable persons.

He visited the protest site soon after a media briefing where he condemned the politically driven brutal attack on peaceful protesters at Galle Face. He said instigating unrest at a time when the Prime Minister promised to resign is unacceptable.

“The organised acts of violence have been reported during the past few weeks with the public riled, and harm brought on innocent people by gangs. Such action cannot be condoned,” the Cardinal told journalists yesterday.

The Cardinal also expressed his disappointment that the Prime Minister stooped to such unfathomable levels to instigate violence against peaceful protestors and expected better of the country’s leaders.

He also said Policemen must carry out their duties to prevent such incidents from happening, insisting that it is their duty to protect people. “We saw on television how Policemen were just letting the hooligans to beat up the innocent protestors. Police must remember that they are not henchmen of politicians,” he added.