Archbishop urges S. Lankan Catholics to vote responsibly

(January 8, 2009) A leading Catholic Church leader of Sri Lanka has appealed to the nation’s Catholics to exercise their voting rights responsibly in deciding who should lead the nation into the future. Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo issued a statement on Wednesday appealing to voters to make their choice in the upcoming presidential election on Jan. 26, according to their conscience, inspired by the notions of justice, equality and democracy, so that the country can return to an era of "true peace and development". He said that this is a crucial moment in Sri Lanka's history as people prepare to vote after 30 years of civil war. For this reason, he called on all Catholics to pray and help create a "peaceful atmosphere before and after the election." "We Catholics need to take into account the principles of faith which govern our way of thinking and our social responsibilities," he said. In addition, he urged all 22 presidential candidates and their supporters to ensure a free and fair election and respect for voters' free choice.