STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF SRI LANKA (NCCSL)

ON THE PREVIALING POLITICAL CRISIS IN SRI LANKA 14th July 2022

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) is highly disturbed by the unfolding events in our country, which apart from the economic bankruptcy, is moving the nation toward a deep political catastrophe. Taking serious note of this disastrous development, we the Heads of Churches of NCCSL. wish to explicitly state the following-

  1. We call upon the people, especially the Youth of our country who fearlessly made many a sacrifice denouncing the prevailing system of corrupt governance and for remedial reforms, to continue their peaceful, non-political agitation for the much- anticipated rule of law and governance, by respecting the existing governing laws of the country and to desist from any acts of damaging public or private property, including those of heritage value.
  2. It is equally important that those in governance or those seeking to retain seats of power, do not in any way abuse their authority and engage in any course of action to deliberately provoke the patience of the public and create an atmosphere for violence; that could be used as a tool and an excuse to consolidate their aspirations for power.
  3. As representatives of the people, we call upon the Parliamentarians to respect and heed to the ‘voice of the general public’ and to place the interests of the country as top priority in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities and to urgently, without further delay to commit themselves towards the forming of the ‘United or All-Party Government’ to collectively address and lift the nation from its fallen state of bankruptcy.
  4. We also call upon the Armed Forces and the Police to act with caution in dealing with the frustrations of the people in their sincere efforts towards responsible and accountable governance and for use of minimum force in dealing with the ongoing protests and agitations. Accordingly, we also request the protestors to be mindful of the challenging responsibilities of the Armed Forces and the Police respectively.

It is our fervent hope and prayer that Sri Lanka as a nation will collectively face, address and overcome the challenges of this unprecedented crisis of a ‘fallen state’, and to this extend be assured of our solidarity, support and cooperation.

Signed:

Heads of Constituent Churches-

Rev. Ebenezer Joseph, Chairperson, National Christian Council of SL/President, Methodist Church of Sri Lanka

Rt. Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo, Bishop of Colombo, Church of Ceylon

Rt. Rev. Keerthisiri Fernando, Bishop of Kurunegala, Church of Ceylon

Rt. Rev. Dr Daniel Thiagarajah, Bishop of Jaffna, Church of South India

Rev. Heshan De Silva, President, Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya

Rev. Saman Perera, President/Moderator, The Presbytery of Lanka

Rev. Shirley Faber, President, Christian Reformed Church

Col. Nihal Hettiarachchi, Territorial Commander, Salvation Army SL

Rev. Dr. Chrisso Handy, General Superintendent& Chairman, Assemblies of God of Ceylon

Rev. Harim Peiris, Acting President, Foursquare Gospel Church

Rev. Maxwell Doss, General Secretary, National Christian Council of Sri Lanka

Constituent Ecumenical Organizations –

Young Men’s Christian Association

Young Women’s Christian Association

Ceylon Bible Society

Christian Literature Society

Student Christian Movement

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Theological College of Lanka

http://nccsl.org/web/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/NCCSL-STATEMENT-ON-PRESENT-POLITICAL-CRISIS-SINHALA.pdf

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