COLOMBO: The Roman Catholic church yesterday urged Sri Lanka not to politicise a visit by the Pope in January amid reports that President Mahinda Rajapakse may hold a snap election early next year.
Cardinal Malcom Ranjith, Head of the Catholic church on the island, called on the government not to use Pope Francis’ visit on January 13-15 as a “political tool”.
His remarks came amid media speculation that Rajapakse, who removed the two-term limit on the presidency after his 2010 re-election, was preparing a poll early next year.
“We have told the president that it is not appropriate for a Pope to visit a country that is in the middle of an election campaign,” the cardinal said.
“The visit should not be used as a political tool by the government, or the opposition, or anybody else for that matter.”
Asked if it would be acceptable if a snap election is concluded before the papal visit, Ranjith said: “The government has to decide on those things... It must be a visit free of politics. That is the position of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.”
From Sri Lanka, the 77-year-old Pope is due to leave for the Philippines. AFP
