Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith together with religious leaders, PM and President to hold silent protest against drugs

Religious leaders led by Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith will stage a mass protest against drugs, next Sunday (March 31) in Colombo.

Cardinal Ranjith speaking at a media conference in Colombo yesterday said the march will begin in all Catholic Churches after the Sunday services. “We have asked all parish priests to walk down to the road with their congregations after the Sunday service and stage a silent protest holding placards.

The main event is to be held at the Vystwyke Park where three processions will come from different directions and merge. A mass rally will be held at the Park.

​President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe together with all religious leaders will participate at the rally. The first group will emerge from Lunupokuna (Ibabagawatte Junction), along Modera Street, the second group will come from Grandpass church via Thotalanga to Aluth Mawatha Road and reach Vystwyke Park though Modara Street. Third Group will begin from Hekitta, through the new bridge, Mattakkuliya, Aluth Mawatha Road and will reach the park via Modera Street.

“Though the President had appointed a task force to combat drugs and many arrests have been made we cannot let things slip away. We call upon Catholics and all men/women of goodwill to help the relevant agencies to be rid of this menace completely. It is our Christian duty as well,” the Cardinal said.

“If there are any Catholics known to be engaged in the drug trade and are not showing any signs of repentance, it is best that the parish churches do not welcome them and do not provide for them any rights that they may have as Catholics to receive holy communion or a burial with a service,” Archbishop was quoted as saying according to the government news portal.

Ven. Thambawita Gunawansa Thera who also participated at the conference said Buddhist devotees would also support the protest march and campaign against drugs as Buddhism is a religion which holds the ideology that social ills such as drugs should be eliminated from the world.