by Melani Manel Perera

The country is moving towards parliamentary elections set for 8 April amidst divisions and uncertainties. Catholic groups stress the importance of voting based on a global Christian worldview centred on the human person. They invite everyone to address social problems together.

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Some 7,620 candidates are running for office in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 8 April. However, doubts are still being raised concerning the legitimacy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election victory on 26 January. Moreover, whilst opposition parties are divided, the president’s party is trying to change election rules, ostensibly to ensure “governability”. This has caused confusion in the electorate and disappointed many people. Last week, the Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM) organised a meeting in the conference room of the Centre for Society and Religion to discuss the political situation and the great responsibility Christians have vis-à-vis the process.

The CSM wants Christians to ponder how they can reconcile their voting choice with their faith and with Christ’s teachings. To do this, they must understand the country’s social and political situation. Sri Lanka is in fact at an important turning point in its history; what happens now will have major repercussions on its political life and constitution.

Speaking to AsiaNew, Mother Beatrice Fernando, from the sisters of Divine Wisdom, said,  “Converting to Jesus, whom I follow with my entire being, is an everyday occurrence,” done by “following his examples and the values he exemplifies.”

“These elections are crucial moment for Sri Lanka,” she explained. “We [at the CSM] want to fight against our society’s structural injustice. We want to help our brothers and sisters lead a life of dignity. This is a right everyone, young or old, is entitled to. Our fight is done through our prayers; it is done by listening to those who cry. We know their suffering.”

Mahinda Namal, a Catholic teacher and human rights activist, agrees that faith can lead to a commitment in favour of people’s rights. “The ruling coalition and the opposition are not doing anything to help the poor and the oppressed. No one is taking care of Sri Lanka’s main problems, like the ethnic divide, economic justice, decentralisation and grassroots democracy. Going from one election to the next, we do not see any concrete action to attain freedom and equality for the poor”.

Namal is also critical of religious leaders, “who tend to reduce political participation to the act of voting.” He believes, “This does not reflect God’s will”. For him, “popular participation in politics should be much more than elections.”

“History has shown that Sri Lanka’s constitutions were drafted to serve political parties or ruling coalitions,” he explained. “They always opposed life based on values and real human aspirations. Now everyone says they want to change the constitution. However, this cannot be done arbitrarily by one party or group.”

“We must elect a parliament that represents the various political parties, ethnic groups, and ideologies. Together, everyone in the new parliament should work on solving the hot issues, like the ethnic question, in today’s Sri Lanka.”

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• lanka
• parliamentary
• elections
• catholics
• faith
• voting
• justice
• equality