ASIA/SRI LANKA - The Bishops on the political crisis: "wisdom and balance prevail"

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - "Everyone should keep in mind that, if there is instability in the country, it is the people who suffer, so we sincerely appeal to all political parties to put aside their interests and respect the Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka to resolve the ongoing conflict": this is what the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka says in a statement sent to Agenzia Fides, signed by Mgr. Winston S. Fernando, Bishop of Badulla and President of the Episcopate. The Bishops, say they are "deeply interested in the situation in the country", and intervene at a time of institutional crisis, while over 100 thousand people took to the streets in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, calling for the restoration of constitutional democracy and the reconciliation of Parliament. With an unexpected decision, in fact, on October 26, the President of the Republic Maithripala Sirisena declared Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe "resigned" and suspended Parliament until November 16th.
The Bishops recall that the nation "has already suffered" because of the long civil war that "enough blood has been spilled", so they ask all political exponents "to act with caution". "The rule of law and democracy should prevail through decisions taken faithfully following the Constitution, in this moment of crisis", says the text.
What counts, the Prelates say "it is not to remain in power or to obtain power", but "to put ourselves at the service of people and the common good, for the development of the country, exploiting all the resources and realizing the great potential that is found in people and natural resources in our beloved land". "Let us pray that wisdom and balance prevail", concludes the statement. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 31/10/2018)

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