Ahead of presidential vote Sri Lanka's Christians unite in call for a ‘wise and courageous’ leader

In the run-up to the 21 September vote, the Sri Lanka Bishops' Conference (CBCSL) and the National Christian Council in Sri Lanka (NCCSL) are calling for a “wise and courageous” leader. To the 38 candidates the request not to delude with favours or false promises and the warning: ‘Serve, don't be served’. The importance of the vote, which is ‘precious’ and should not be wasted with a boycott or a void ballot.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - ‘The nation needs a wise and courageous leader to bring those long-awaited changes to the system to eradicate corruption and its related evils’. This is what the Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka (CBSSL) said in a note, calling on the population to go to the polls ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for 21 September.

An appeal shared and relaunched by the National Christian Council in Sri Lanka (NCCSL), according to which going to the polls is a civic duty to be exercised responsibly. Because, as the Constitution states, sovereignty ‘belongs to the people’, it is ‘inalienable’ and includes ‘the powers of government and fundamental rights’ to protect every citizen.

In view of the electoral round, the bishops then address the 38 presidential candidates, urging them not to delude the electorate with favours and false promises, carefully evaluating their collaborators and those involved in the campaign ahead of the vote. Furthermore, the Cbcsl invites all registered voters to cast their votes to elect a leader ‘who would govern the country according to democratic and moral ideals, based on the values of the island's four main religions, while also respecting the cultural ethics of its people’.

The document states that, as religious leaders, ‘we invite presidential candidates to find inspiration in the sacred axiom of Jesus: “Not to be served but to serve” (Mk 10:45). It is an invitation to practise power as service,‘ continues the note of the Bishops’ Conference, which then addresses the electorate by reminding them of the desire for justice and the importance of thorough investigations into the expropriation of property, kidnappings and politically motivated killings.

This is an open wound in some areas in particular, such as in the north and east due to years of war, combined with civil unrest in the south and the massacre - still unpunished - of Christians on Easter Sunday 2019. ‘All perpetrators must be identified and prosecuted according to the laws of the country and no one must be allowed to interfere in the process of seeking justice for the 274 victims killed and the approximately 500 people injured, some very seriously,’ the bishops concluded.

Meanwhile, the National Christian Council in Sri Lanka (Nccsl) has also intervened in the presidential elections by directly addressing candidates and voters, emphasising 11 points that concern unresolved social, economic and political issues.

The Christian movement urges voters to study carefully whether candidates are involved in criminal proceedings or offences, violation of human rights, racism, corruption or violation of electoral law. In the note, they strongly emphasise the importance of voting, which is ‘precious’, and therefore counterproductive choices ‘although used in the past’ such as boycotts or null votes, which some would like to use as an act of protest, must be avoided.

‘This has also happened in the past. The NCCSL recognises that these campaigns can be based on disappointment and frustration at the unwillingness and inability of those elected,' the Christian movement notes, especially for minorities or marginalised communities.

However, he adds, looking ahead to the upcoming elections, it is important that they ‘offer the opportunity for a better future for all citizens’ who, for this, must use the ballot box ‘to ensure that the best person is called to the most important office’.

Among the signatories of the document are the NCCSL president, the Anglican bishops and leaders, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Presbyterians, the Young Christian Women's Association and the Lanka Theological College.

• Sri Lanka
• Catholics
• Anglicans
• presidential
• elections
• bishops' conference
• vote