COLOMBO (UCAN): The Catholic Anglican and Churches in Sri Lanka have urged the country’s government to stick to democracy amid moves to postpone local elections. The government postponed the elections saying the country has no money to conduct the polls which were to be held on March 9.
On February 26, police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters as demonstrations erupted in the capital Colombo and several parts of the country against the decision.
Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith of Colombo said that the president and the government are bound by the constitution to create the necessary environment to hold local elections.
The cardinal called postponing elections an anti-democratic action.
Sri Lanka’s two Anglican bishops said in February 25 a statement that their country is under a dictatorship.
Bishop Dushantha Lakshman Rodrigo of Colombo, and Bishop Keerthisiri Fernando of Kurunegala, said, “The hallmark of any democracy is the opportunity it affords to citizens to choose their own elected representatives. Denying that opportunity to our people will only affirm the fact that we are now under a dictatorship
A currency crisis has led to shortages of fuel, food, medicines, and cooking gas in the country of 22 million people. Last year, former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled and resigned due to protests.
An interim government runs the country now. To tide over its foreign debt of US$51 billion, it has approached neighbours and international agencies, including the International Monetary Fund.
The Anglican bishops observed that Sri Lanka went bankrupt due to policy blunders, corruption, waste and mismanagement by those who were entrusted with the task of governing the country.
“The people have now been burdened with painful economic measures which could have been averted if the right thing was done at the right time,” said the bishops in their statement.
“The government is telling the people to keep quiet and stand aside,” said opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa.
Ruwan Antony, a human rights worker, said it was a lie that the government has no money to hold elections.
“The government still spends millions of money on unnecessary events,” Antony pointed out.
Mujibur Rahuman, a former member of parliament and a candidate of the Samagi Janabalawega for mayor of Colombo, said the government was making a mockery of democracy by putting off the polls.
