Statement of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka on the Current Situation

Statement of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka on the Current Situation

It is with a sense of shock and dismay that the people of Sri Lanka received the announcement on the evening of Friday 26 October 2018 of the swearing-in of Hon. Minister Mahinda Rajapakse as the Prime Minister of our country by His Excellency, President MaIthrpala Sirisena, and the removal of the serving Prime Minister, Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe from such office.

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) takes serious note of this political development and considers this unprecedented move which is questionable in terms of the accepted norms of democratic principles and the provisions in our Constitution. It is our belief that the matter should have been best resolved in Parliament in a transparent manner with adherence to stipulated and clear procedures.

The turn of events shrouded in secrecy and surprise, we regret, has raised many questions in the minds of our people instilling fear and uncertainty as we witness two competing Prime Ministers together with their respective parties jostling for power, authority and legitimacy for state rule. In this process, whilst noting with sadness the subjection of state institutions to force and intimidation for political control, we also admire the patience of the general public who await solution to this prevailing crisis within constitutional and judicial formalities.

We are a wounded nation recovering from war and violence and amidst severe economic burden on the people, cannot at any cost afford another crisis which can plunge and push the country into further chaos.

Hence, the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) as a religious entity with no affiliation to any political party or personality, appeals to the President to uphold the democratic traditions and the sanctity of our Constitution bearing in mind the mandate he received from the people when he was elected into office and calls upon its people and leaders of every sphere to act with prudence to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.

Signed

Rev. Heshan De Silva,Chairperson of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka, andPresident, Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya
Rt. Rev. D.R. Canagasabey –Bishop of Colombo, Church of Ceylon, Diocese of Colombo
Rev. Saman Perera President, Presbytery of Lanka
Rt. Rev. Dr. Daniel S. Thiagarajah, Bishop of Jaffna Diocese, Church of South India
Rev. Asiri P. Perera, President/Bishop, Methodist Church of Sri Lanka
Rt. Rev. Keerthisiri Fernando – Bishop of the Church of Ceylon , Diocese of Kurunegala
Rev. Shirley Faber, President, Christian Reformed Church
Colonel Yousaf Masiah ,Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army
Rev. G. Nadarajah, President, Lanka Lutheran Church
Rev. Michael Dissanayake, General Superintendent and Chairman, Assemblies of God of Ceylon
Rev. Leslie Keegal, President, Church of the Four Square Gospel Church in Sri Lanka.
Rev. T. Thevanesan, President, Church of the American Ceylon Mission
Rev. W.P. Ebenezer Joseph, General Secretary, National Christian Council of Sri Lanka

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka also represents:

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA)
Student Christian Movement (SCM)
The Ceylon Bible Society
Christian Literature Society
Theological College of Lanka.
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Colombo Theological Seminary
Youth for Christ