UPFA catholic ministers, MPs are concerned!

 Saturday, 18 October 2014 

Deputy minister of fisheries Sarath Gunaratne said at a dinner for SLFP electoral organizers at Temple Trees on October 16 that the government stands to lose catholic votes if the scheduled Sri Lankan trip by Pope Francis is cancelled in the event a presidential election is called to clash with his visit. All catholic ministers and MPs present paid attention to this matter.

The deputy minister told them that Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has convened bishops from across the country to Colombo to discuss arrangements for the papal visit.

One catholic minister said that when he asked minister Basil Rajapaksa, who is in charge of ‘Maga Neguma’ to renovate the access road to Madhu Church, which the Pope is due to visit at the invitation of Bishop Rayappu Joseph, he was told to ask the defence secretary about it. However, it is most likely that the road would not be renovated if asked, due to the antagonism between the defence secretary and Bishop Joseph. All these have been discussed by the Catholic ministers and MPs of the government.

Also, a Vatican delegation is due to arrive on October 27 to take a final decision on the Pope’s visit, deputy minister Gunaratne added.