Sri Lanka: Cardinal Ranjith Must Be Held Accountable Before It’s Too Late

by Luxman Aravind

The allegations against Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith surrounding the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks have left a deep scar on the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. The initial claim that the Cardinal avoided Easter Sunday Mass knowing that a deadly attack was imminent was brushed aside by him with a weak and unsatisfactory explanation. He offered no tangible defence, merely dismissing the allegations. Now, however, the revelation of his foreknowledge regarding two vital presidential committee reports probing the attacks has exposed a dishonest streak in the Cardinal’s actions. This revelation throws into sharp relief the troubling conduct of the Church’s leadership and raises serious concerns about their ethical standards.

Cardinal Ranjith’s evasion of responsibility for the attacks has become more evident over time. It is one thing to face accusations of avoiding Mass in the face of impending danger, but to later admit that he knew the content of two highly significant reports—before they were released—is deeply problematic. The reports, commissioned by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, were meant to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Easter Sunday bombings. Yet, the Cardinal has shown no interest in these findings, claiming during a recent Mass that he is “not interested” in releasing them. Such dismissiveness undermines the Church’s commitment to truth and justice, and it raises troubling questions about what the Cardinal might be trying to hide.

Before this latest twist, Father Cyril Gamini, the Cardinal’s spokesperson, made similarly baffling statements. Initially, Father Gamini called on the government to release the reports, demanding transparency and justice for the victims. However, soon after, he backtracked, echoing the Cardinal’s lack of interest in the reports. This kind of doublespeak is not only disheartening but also reveals a deeper, more sinister pattern of behaviour—one that suggests the Church is more interested in preserving its own power than in addressing the truth. This kind of hypocrisy is in stark contrast to the values of honesty and integrity that the Church claims to uphold.

The hypocrisy runs deeper still. In avoiding full transparency, the Cardinal and his inner circle are engaging in a dangerous game that uses the Easter Sunday tragedy as a political tool. The current President, struggling to gain the Catholic vote in the lead-up to parliamentary elections, has found in the Cardinal a willing partner. By aligning himself with the top leaders of the Church, the President hopes to secure their support and, with it, the loyalty of a significant portion of the electorate. This unholy alliance of politics and religion only serves to erode the moral authority of the Church, which appears to be using a national tragedy for its own political gain.

What is even more concerning is the Cardinal’s refusal to hold accountable those implicated in the reports. According to his own admission, the reports suggest the prosecution of two senior police officers— presumably, Ravi Seneviratne and Shani Abeysekera—who are closely tied to the current government. Rather than support the findings and call for justice, the Cardinal has chosen to downplay their importance, labelling them as politically motivated and therefore not worth pursuing. This blatant disregard for accountability not only shields those in power but also diminishes the hope for justice for the victims of the Easter attacks.

The Bible speaks clearly on the importance of justice and truth. Proverbs 21:15 reminds us that “when justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” The Church, which claims to stand as a moral authority, cannot allow itself to become an instrument of political power, complicit in injustice. Yet, the actions of the Cardinal and his team suggest that they are more interested in protecting their own interests than in seeking the truth. The victims of the Easter Sunday attacks and their families deserve justice, and the Church should be leading the charge, not obstructing it.

In the midst of this betrayal, one cannot overlook the mismanagement of funds collected in the name of victim assistance. Reports suggest that those funds, raised to aid the families affected by the bombings, have not been properly accounted for. This lack of transparency further compounds the suspicion that the Church is using this tragedy as a way to consolidate power and influence, rather than helping those who have suffered the most. The failure to account for these funds is yet another indication that the leadership of the Church is prioritising its own interests over the needs of its followers.

The silence of other priests in the face of this corruption is also troubling. Where is the voice of conscience within the Church? Those who truly believe in the mission of the Church, who see their role as shepherds of the faithful, must stand up against this hypocrisy. To remain silent in the face of such wrongdoing is to be complicit in it. As James 4:17 reminds us, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” The Church needs voices of integrity to rise up and demand that the leadership be held accountable for their actions.

What is at stake here is not just the reputation of individual leaders but the future of the Church itself. The longer this hypocrisy continues, the more the credibility of the Church is eroded. Faithful Catholics who look to the Church for moral guidance are left wondering whether their leaders can be trusted. The credibility of the Church is not a political game to be played—it is the bedrock upon which the faith of millions rests. If the Church continues down this path of deceit and dishonesty, it risks losing not just its moral authority but its very soul.

The Easter Sunday attacks were a national tragedy that claimed the lives of innocent worshippers. For the families of those victims, justice is not just a distant ideal—it is a necessity. They deserve answers. They deserve to know who failed them and why those responsible were not held accountable. The Cardinal and his team, by evading the truth and engaging in political manoeuvring, are betraying the trust of the very people they claim to serve. This is a betrayal not only of the victims but of the faith itself.

The Church must cleanse itself of this hypocrisy before it is too late. The actions of Cardinal Ranjith and his team have brought the Church to the brink of ruin. If the Church is to survive this crisis, it must return to the core values of truth, justice, and integrity. The leadership must be held accountable, and the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks must be given the justice they deserve. Only by doing so can the Church hope to restore its credibility and continue its mission as a force for good in the world. Anything less would be a betrayal of its faith and its followers.