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ISSUE 2 2020
Fallout for Faith Groups COVID -19 and Sri Lanka By The Rt Rev’d Dhiloraj Ranjit Canagasabey, Former Bishop of Colombo Diocese, the Church of Ceylon At the time of writing (June), my country Sri Lanka is gradually returning to a semblance of ‘normal’ life after nearly two months of lockdown. Sri Lanka is a developing, middle-income country with limited emergency healthcare capacities and a lack of protective and other equipment. The lockdown has had a drastic effect on people’s livelihoods and the country’s economy, already under huge strain following the Easter Day terrorist bombings of 2019.
able to reach out to about 3,000 families and individuals. The other boards and committees of the Diocese, engaged in outreach ministries such as the Youth Movement, the Mothers’ Union, the Board of Christian Education or prayer ministry while using electronic media for their regular activities, have also either joined the BSR or parishes in reaching out with material assistance to the vulnerable and needy. Lessons for learning
The fallout for faith groups
As a faith community, is God wanting to tell us something through this tragedy which effectively The ban on gatherings stopped worship services in brought the entire world to a halt? I believe so. churches, temples, mosques and kovils since late The full stop that brought our illusions crashing March. At diocesan level, I asked our clergy to fall down has been matched by a flowering and in line with government guidelines but to keep flourishing of nature. We dare not return to our church buildings open for individual prayer. Many old ways of unlimited greed and the stripping of clergy quickly took advantage of the wide use of the earth’s resources for profits for the rich and smartphones, tablets and so on to record and powerful. distribute Sunday Eucharist celebrations, messages, reflections and prayers. Pastoral visits Caring for God’s Earth took place via telephone - especially for the elderly who sometimes do not have access to the I believe that the Church, as a people of God, Internet or smartphones. needs to ask itself whether we have been faithful to the biblical command to care for our fragile Our response earth or whether we have failed to give it due emphasis. Let us as a community of believers in The Board of Social Responsibility (BSR) of the God the creator and sustainer, be inspired to play diocese began to assess need and provide relief a lead role in advocating for a new, more balanced assistance through its regional structures, mainly approach to development and the way we through providing grocery packs and other interact with our environment in the post-Covid essential household items. To date we have been world.
Sri Lanka is a developing, middle-income country
The Rt Rev’d Dhiloraj Ranjit Canagasabey Former Bishop of Colombo at Christ Church, Sri Lanka
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