Cardinal seeks Govt. approval to resume services

By Yohan Perera  

Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday requested the government and the health authorities to allow all places of worship to resume religious observances with the participation of the public.   

“I am not requesting the government to accord special treatment to the Catholic Church but to allow all places of worship to begin religious observances with the participation of the public,” Cardinal Ranjith said making a special appeal at the end of the Sunday service he held at Grand Street Church Negombo yesterday morning.   
He said he had already made an official request to the government.   

“I am also making this request as many activities in Sri Lanka has come back to normal after the long lockdown since the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added, while assuring that all churches will follow social distancing and health practices if the Sunday services are allowed.  He reminded the authorities that the Catholic Church heeded to the request made by the government to stop Sunday services and to close down all churches with the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.   “We appeal to the authorities to allow places of religious worship to start observances even with limited participation,” he said.   

It was reported earlier that churches have been allowed to hold wedding services limiting the number of guests to 100 and with hygiene practices such as wearing face masks and sanitisation.   

 Some churches also conducted  Sunday School classes via Zoom during the past two weeks.   

• I am also making this request as many activities in Sri Lanka has come back to normal