Cardinal Ranjith says Church opposes death penalty, reiterates call for Easter attacks justice

Wednesday, 12 August 2026 05:58 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith

Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday said the Catholic Church does not support the death penalty, while reaffirming its demand for justice for victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

In a statement, Cardinal Ranjith said the Archdiocese of Colombo remained committed to uncovering the mastermind or masterminds and all parties involved in the attacks and ensuring justice for the victims in accordance with the law.

However, he said the Church could not support capital punishment, citing paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which declares the death penalty unacceptable as it violates human dignity.

Cardinal Ranjith stressed that the position should not be construed as interference with the judicial process.

“We have full confidence in the independence of the Sri Lankan judiciary and do not intend to interfere in any way with its decisions or deliberations,” he said.

He said the Church did not seek revenge and called for measures to prevent organised or extremist attacks at places of worship or elsewhere in the country.

Citing former Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Ranjith said the obligation to forgive and reject personal revenge did not absolve civil society and the legal system of their responsibility to uphold public peace, justice and accountability through the established judicial process.