By The Pulseline News Desk
The Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, is preparing to pursue legal action against opposition member of parliament (MP) Chamara Sampath Dassanayake over what the Cardinal’s office describes as false and defamatory statements concerning the Archbishop and the Sri Lanka Army.
The announcement was made by the Cardinal’s Media Spokesman, Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini, who said the Cardinal’s legal team has already initiated the necessary legal procedures in response to remarks allegedly made by the parliamentarian during a joint opposition meeting held on or around July 10.
According to Rev. Fr. Gamini, the MP had claimed that the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army had visited Cardinal Ranjith’s residence on July 2 carrying a basket of fruit and that the Army Commander’s tenure was subsequently extended until January or February 2028. The Cardinal’s office has categorically denied these allegations, describing them as entirely baseless.
The Church’s statement pointed to the Cardinal’s travel schedule as evidence contradicting the claim. It had noted that Cardinal Ranjith was not in Sri Lanka on July 2, having returned only on July 3 after participating in a Vatican conference in Rome presided over by Pope Leo XIV. The statement had further asserted that since his return, no meeting has taken place between the Cardinal and the Army Commander.
Church officials had argued that the factual timeline alone is sufficient to disprove the allegations and have emphasised that the statements have caused unnecessary controversy by suggesting a meeting that, according to the Cardinal’s office, could not have occurred.
Beyond disputing the facts, Rev. Fr. Gamini has expressed concern over the broader implications of the remarks, alleging that they were intended to damage the Cardinal’s reputation while creating unnecessary tensions between religious institutions and the public for political purposes.
The decision to seek legal redress signals the seriousness with which the Archbishop’s office views the matter. While legal proceedings are expected to address the accuracy and impact of the statements, the controversy has also reignited discussion about accountability in public discourse and the responsibility of political leaders to ensure that allegations made in public forums are supported by verifiable facts.
As of now, the MP has not publicly responded to the Cardinal’s announcement of impending legal action.
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