Sri Lankan Cardinal Rejects Death Penalty, Calls for Justice for Easter Attack Victims

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, has reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s rejection of the death penalty while calling for truth, accountability and justice for the victims of Sri Lanka’s 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.

In a media statement issued August 10, Cardinal Ranjith said the Archdiocese of Colombo remains in solidarity with those affected by the attacks and expects the masterminds and all others responsible to be identified and held accountable under the law.

The cardinal’s statement follows a July 31 court ruling sentencing former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando to death for their failure to act on intelligence warnings ahead of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The three-judge High Court bench issued the verdict by a 2-1 majority.

While affirming the Church’s commitment to justice, Cardinal Ranjith said it cannot support capital punishment because it violates human dignity.

Citing Article 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he said the Church’s position on the death penalty should not be understood as opposition to the independence of the Sri Lankan judiciary or as an attempt to influence judicial proceedings.

The cardinal stressed that the Church wants those responsible for the attacks to be brought to justice, particularly those who planned or masterminded them.

He also called on authorities to take effective measures to prevent future organized or extremist attacks, particularly against places of worship and other public spaces.

“Those in positions of authority must always make every possible effort to prevent such tragedies from happening to anyone,” the statement said.

Cardinal Ranjith distinguished the Church’s pursuit of justice from vengeance. He cited St. Pope John Paul II’s 2002 World Day of Peace message, “No Peace Without Justice, No Justice Without Forgiveness,” which called for personal forgiveness while affirming the responsibility of civil society and legal systems to uphold public order, justice and accountability.

The cardinal’s position comes as Sri Lanka continues to seek answers over the Easter Sunday attacks, including questions about prior intelligence warnings and the failures that allowed the attacks to take place.

For the Archdiocese of Colombo, Cardinal Ranjith said, the pursuit of justice must therefore include establishing the full truth, holding those responsible accountable and ensuring that such violence is not repeated.

The statement underscores the Church’s position that justice for the victims and respect for human dignity are not contradictory. Rather, accountability must be pursued through the rule of law without resorting to capital punishment.