Archdiocese of Colombo condemns Finance Minister's tweet on Cardinal

The Archdiocese of Colombo has "categorically condemned" Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera's tweet on the Cardinal's visit to Ven Athuraliye Rathana Thera who was on a hunger fast, yesterday (Jun 04).

Issuing a press release, the Council of Priests of the Archdiocese of Colombo said that the tweet by the Finance Minister contained a "distorted interpretation" of the visit paid by the Cardinal along with two other Bishops and other Catholic clergy.

"We strongly voice our opposition to Minister Mangala Samaraweera who has criticized the efforts of religious harmony advocated by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith..." the release empahsised.

Priests Council Secretary Rev. Fr. Freely Muthukudarachchi explained in the release that Ven Rathana Thera had launched the strike on behalf of the Easter Sunday attack victims.

Fr. Muthukudarachchi also said that the Council of Priests, as Catholics, would continue to support peacemaking among all religions as a long standing heritage of the country.

Yesterday, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, on his official Twitter handle took issue with the Cardinal's visit to Rathana Thera. He claimed that the Cardinal had fanned the flames of communal hatred and communalism by doing so.

#Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith fanning the flames of hatred and communalism by visiting fasting robed MP Rathana. #Vatican TAKE NOTE! @Pontifex @VaticanNews #lka

— Mangala Samaraweera (@MangalaLK) June 3, 2019