SW News: Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of the Colombo archdiocese in Sri Lanka has been the voice of the Catholic Church and human rights ever since he assumed office. Now, a Catholic lawmaker has raised concerns over the protection provided to His Eminence the Cardinal.

It was lawmaker Kavinda Jayawardane of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Party who alleged that the government was reducing the security cover of the cardinal and sought a probe. But State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon countered the allegation saying he did not know if there was any threat as such to the cardinal, but he promised to examine the matter.

Ever since the dreaded Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, the government has deployed a group of commandos to protect Cardinal Ranjith. Given the fact that he vociferously demands justice for the victims of the attacks and bringing the real culprits before the law, there could be a threat to the top prelate’s life, UCA News quoted a senior member of the clergy in the Archdiocese of Colombo as saying.

He said that although a sub-unit of the army and commandos were deployed to protect the cardinal, the security cover of commandos is not available at present, the priest said. He said that six soldiers are at the main gate of the Bishop’s house in Colombo, adding that earlier there was tighter security when even the employees were under scrutiny.

“A separate security team with a vehicle is deployed for the cardinal’s security for the public events he participates in regularly,” said the priest. Apart from speaking on behalf of the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks and their families, Cardinal Ranjith also champions human rights. When the economic recession hit the country and scarcity of essential items became acute, he lost no time in seeking government intervention. During the unrest which rocked the island nation, he remained the lone voice for peace, stability and protection of human rights.