Bishops’ Conference denies report on extension of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s tenure

By Yohan Perera 

Colombo, July 02 (Daily Mirror) - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka has denied the reports which have been circulating in social media that Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has managed to get his tenure extended by using the Easter Sunday bomb attacks. 

"One of the false propaganda reports that is being circulated is that Cardinal Ranjith is using the Easter Sunday bomb attacks to get his tenure extended. This is totally false," a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka said. 

"When a Bishop in a Catholic diocese in any part of the world reaches the age of 75, he is obliged by the Cannon Law to submit a letter of retirement to the Pope. However, the retirement officially takes effect only after the Pope approves it as per Cannon law 401," the statement signed by Sri Lanka Catholic Bishops' Conference President Bishop Harold Anthony Perera and Secretary General Bishop Anton Ranjith Pilleynayagam said.