‘The Heart of a Shepherd, the voice of a Nation’ — His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith

My first meeting with His Eminence goes back to the time of the late Archbishop, His Grace Oswald Gomis. I met His Eminence in the company of Archbishop Gomis many years ago, when His Eminence was the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo. He had come to see my late father, Dr. Cyril Perera. Subsequently when His Eminence became the Archbishop, I was called by him to be the lawyer of the Finance Committee of the Archdiocese. From there on I have had a very close relationship with him.

- BY SHAMMIL J. PERERA PRESIDENT’S COUNSEL

This relationship got much closer with the tragic Easter Sunday Bomb attack in 2019. We worked very closely during those eighteen months of the Commission. Throughout that period and whenever I wanted certain factual matters clarified I was able to do so, without a moment's hesitation even whilst the Commission was in session. One thing I discovered during this period was his immense love for his people. Many times here and abroad he used to break down and cry, when recounting the tragic bomb blast — ‘Tears are words the heart cannot express’.

His Eminence requested the then President to appoint a Commission to look into the Easter Sunday Blast. The Commission report very clearly stated as follows;

“In view of the intimation made by the President that one reason for the appointment of the Commission of Inquiry was the request made by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, it was decided to allow him legal representation from day one of the proceedings. Accordingly, Mr. Shammil Perera, President's Counsel and a team of lawyers were present throughout the reception of evidence including evidence in camera”

In fact His Eminence took it on himself to give evidence personally on two days at the Easter Sunday Commission. The Commission has recorded as follows inter —alia on his evidence;