Archbishop calls for holding LG polls by March next year to send message to govt.

By Sujeewa Thathsara

Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, has urged the Elections Commission to hold the local council elections by March 2023.

During a religious event at the Sacred Heart Church in Ragama, he said that an election would give the people an opportunity to send a message to the government democratically.

“Even the middle classes people are starving. Most people do not have food. The government has opened the Lotus Tower, but people are hungry. The government wants to attract tourists but what about the people who are suffering?” he asked.

The MPs are still attempting to mislead the people while living in luxury, the Cardinal said.

“8.3 million Sri Lankans only eat once a day. They will eat rice, sambol and one vegetable curry. But Ministers eat well. About 4000 anti-government protestors are in jail. Is this democracy? If the Elections Commission does not take steps to hold elections, it will be a great betrayal of the people. We have the right to vote. If people are not given the chance to express their anger democratically, they will resort to violence,” he said.