|
|
|
| Sunday, 30 October 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Milroy cautions Catholics Fisheries and Christian Affairs Minister Milroy Fernando was interviewed by Sunday Observer staff reporter Anura Maitipe on unfounded fears being created among the Christian and Catholic community by designing politicians against Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse. Question: A fear psychosis is being created by certain rabble rousers that if Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse becomes President there will be a witch hunt of non Buddhists specially Catholic and Christians. How would you comment on this issue? Answer: A Catholic UNP politician representing Gampaha district is fully responsible for the spread of rumours and distribution of scurrillous pamphlets among the Christian and Catholic community. His aim is to create a fear psychosis among the Christian community against Buddhists. He must understand that making use of the Christian Church or Catholic religion for party politics is a sinful act that God would never pardon him. Question: The Anti Conversion Bill is being touted to prejudice Christians and catholics as a sure outcome if Mahinda Rajapakshe is elected. What is your stand on this issue? Answer: This Bill was tabled as a private member's motion. There are many other such motions in the House. When this was tabled I was the only Catholic Politician who opposed it. Just like other such Bills this Bill too was referred to a select committee. This Bill has to go through a long process to become a Law. It has to be draffed by the Attorney General's Department and then passed by the House after Cabinet approval.The Attorney General's Department will not submit a Bill unless it is compatable with the constitutional provisions and the existing law. If there are any legal implications they will have to seek Supreme Court opinion. The UNP leader knows that it is a mere private member's motion and it is ineffective. But at this juncture they try to capitalise on this issue to grab a few more votes. Question: As a Catholic and Minister of Christian Affairs how would you counter this wrong and malicious propaganda against Prime Minister Rajapakse? Answer: I am a firm believer in God and urge all members of the Christian and Catholic community to be aware of these unscrupulous politicians and their malicious acts. They are manipulated political gimmicks to grab the votes of the Christians but such acts would destroy the religious harmony among different groups and are a serious threat to the pluralistic society today. Since 1977, throughout the UNP regimes, they have made every effort to destroy religious harmony in this country. In July, 1983 the mobs led by the UNP went berserk to Hindu Kovils and churches in the country killing hundreds of innocent people in cold blood. And again mobs reactivated and attacked some churches during the period of Ranil Wickremesinghe regime in 2004. And it would have spread throughout the country making another black July unless President Kumaratunga intervened and prevented it. Prime Minister Rajapakse in his 'Mahinda Chintana' has already assured to uphold and safeguard the dignity of all religions on an equal basis. The SLFP Governments had always protected religious harmony in the country. It was a remarkable event for the Christian community that the spiritual leaders of the Catholics Pope Paul (VI) and Pope Paul (ii) leaders visited Sri Lanka during the regimes of Governments led by late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. These courtesy visits were made by Popes to appreciate the religious harmony upheld by Centre Left Governments in this country. Question: What role should the Catholic and Christian communities play in making the peace process meaningful? Answer: In Mahinda Chintana, it is clearly spelt out that peace has to be achieved by addressing the problems faced by the Tamil Community without harming the unitary status of the country. The victory of Mahinda Rajapakse in the forthcoming Presidential election will provide an ideal opportunity to solve this problem by bringing all political parties and other movements in the south under the leadership of Rajapakse. It is a very positive gesture toward solving the prolonged conflict in this country. Therefore it is the duty of peace loving people to strengthen the hand of
Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse in his efforts to solve the ethnic
problem. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
