Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo has hailed Sri Lanka’s political transition as a moment of “profound renewal,” citing the rise of a new administration and a growing sense of hope among citizens following years of crisis and corruption.
“Sri Lanka is going through a period of profound political and democratic renewal,” the cardinal told Fides News Agency in a recent interview.
“Since November 2024, we have had a new president and a new parliament, with an absolute majority, changing the old power structure linked to a corrupt political class guilty of abuse of power and human rights violations,” said the prelate.
The new leadership under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elected last year on a socialist platform, has been widely seen as a break from the political dynasties and entrenched patronage systems that dominated for decades.
According to Cardinal Ranjith, the shift has restored optimism across the country after a prolonged economic and social downturn.
“In a country that has emerged from a serious social and economic crisis, a new hope is emerging,” he said. “Hope… is precisely the right word to describe the spirit that prevails in the country today.”
Ranjith said the Catholic Church is observing the Jubilee of Hope in alignment with the country’s ongoing political, social, cultural, and spiritual transformation.
The cardinal described the new administration as one that “appears honest and committed to the welfare of the people and aware of its responsibilities, a government that intends to combat poverty and care for the well-being of the most disadvantaged social classes.”
He said the initial actions of the Dissanayake administration indicate a commitment to accountability, with efforts underway to address past injustices through legal and constitutional means.
Ranjith identified economic recovery as one of the main challenges facing the country, noting that the government is following International Monetary Fund recommendations and has secured financial support to aid in the process.
He said tourism, a key contributor to national income, is also rebounding, which signals positive momentum. Although full recovery may take several years, he observed a growing sense of optimism among the population, who see the current leadership as trustworthy and responsible.
He also noted that the majority of Catholics supported the new president and that the Church enjoys constructive relations with the government, with promising prospects for collaboration.
However, the Church continues to press for justice over the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed more than 250 people, including 167 Catholics. Ranjith said the failure of previous administrations to pursue accountability has left “an open wound” in Church–state relations.
“It is a question of justice, that is, the search for the perpetrators, executors, and sponsors responsible for the Easter terrorist attacks on churches and hotels in 2019, and their prosecution,” he said.
The cardinal welcomed the government’s decision to reopen the investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, describing it as a step toward transparency and accountability.
A new commission has been established and is actively conducting interviews, including with Catholic clergy. Ranjith said the Church has consistently called for justice and the uncovering of any potential complicity within the state apparatus.
He also expressed gratitude to the Vatican for including the 167 Catholics killed in the attacks in the official list of “Witnesses of the Faith of the 21st Century” as part of the Jubilee Year observance.
