Sri Lankan Catholics have started a week-long prayer campaign so that a good, visionary leader is elected in the crisis-hit nation through a free and fair presidential election due on September 21. Source: UCA News.
The prayer campaign began on Sunday and runs until September 5, closing a week before millions in the Buddhist-majority island nation flock to polling stations to cast their votes.
In a message to Catholics as the campaign started, Bishop Jude Nishantha Silva of Badulla called on the faithful to be responsible to elect “a genuine leader” who can steer the nation from crisis.
“Voting is both a responsibility and a right; don’t hesitate to vote for a leader who can address long-standing issues and build a better future for our country,” Bishop Silva said in a post on social media.
“Seize this crucial opportunity to choose a leader who can create a legacy suited to our current needs and ensure a free and fair election by behaving peacefully on the day before and after so that no one is harassed,” said the former local Caritas director.
Sri Lanka is grappling to overcome its worst economic crisis, fuelled by debts and depletion of foreign currency reserves blamed on years of misrule and corruption by the powerful Rajapaksa family.
The crisis triggered a nationwide mass public uprising, forcing former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign and flee the country in July 2022.
Current President Ranil Wickremesinghe has attempted to introduce major financial reforms and sought bailout packages from international creditors such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
However, Mr Wickremesinghe is accused of failing to revive the ailing economy and also for tacitly getting the backing of the Rajapaksa dynasty for political gains.
On August 27, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka issued a statement to urge voters to elect a president who is committed to democracy and to protect all democratic institutions.
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Sri Lankan Catholics pray for fair election, good leader (UCA News)
