‘Prime Ministers, Ministers and Bishops cause USD 17 billion losses in energy sector’

– Cardinal’s response

My attention has been drawn to the centre page article, written in The Island Newspaper of 10th August 2021 by Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya, titled “Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers and Bishops cause USD 17 billion losses in energy sector.”

In this article, Mr. Siyambalapitiya quotes me with the words: “Archbishop of Colombo says that he does not want gas power plants.” I am quite surprised about this hypothesis of Mr Siyambalapitiya and I wish to, therefore, totally deny this allegation as I have never said anything against any gas power plant. I, of course, opposed the project, planned in Kerawalapitiya, for the new LNG Plant, because in the plans for the construction of this Plant, the Government wishes to fill with sea sand 100 odd acres of the Muthurajawela marsh, which will be an environmental disaster for the whole area. I am not opposed to the gas power plant as such, but I am opposed to filling up the Muthurajawela marsh in order to construct this gas power plant. The reason for this is well known that already at the slightest minor flood situation in the Gampaha district, this whole area gets flooded. In the recent monsoon rains experienced in the month of May, the Church had to organise refugee camps for the people and feed thousands of families in this area, already before the filling of the 100 acres. How would it be if the 100 acres are infact filled. Mr Siyambalapitiya should consult Rev. Fr. Jayantha Nimal, Parish Priest of Bopitiya, and ask him as to how he managed to feed all those people during the days of the flood.

As to his great interest in supporting coal power and gas power plants, I wish to draw his attention to the front page article appearing in the same newspaper, titled: “UN climate report ‘code red for humanity’: Guterres”. In this article the UN Secretary General speaks

about the UN Climate Report that predicts quicker global warming than anticipated and it “must sound a death knell” for coal, oil and gas and is “code red” for humanity. The rest of the report is found in page 4, whereby world leaders speak about the need to cut down on the burning of fossil fuels, for engergy.

Further, Mr Siyambalapitiya speaks about the Holy See but I wish to inform him that the Holy Father Pope Francis in his Encyclical letter Laudato Si on the care of our common home, the earth, mentions, among other things, of a disturbing warming of the climate system of the earth due to the great concentration of greenhouse gases released, mainly as a result of human activity. The Pope further states: “The problem is aggravated by a model of development based on the intensive use of fossil fuels, which is at the heart of the worldwide energy system.” [Laudato Si N. 23]. The Holy Father calls for an ecological conversion in the light of what is happening.

I wish to clarify very clearly to Mr. Siyambalapitiya that he should carefully analyze the facts before making sweeping statements and even having the boldness to classify us as people who “sabotage” progress, which is way over the line, purely based on his own prejudices.

Therefore I would appreciate if you could kindly publish this letter of mine, giving equal importance, as given to the article appearing in The Island Newspaper of today.

I thank you for your kindness in this regard and wish you all the best.

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith
Archbishop of Colombo