Outraged Catholics demand answers over Rs. 1.311 billion in unaccounted Church funds, slam politicisation of sacred spaces, and call for the Church to return to its spiritual roots. Allegations of gambling, misuse of premises, and betrayal of Christian doctrine have triggered a public reckoning.
A growing storm is brewing within the Sri Lankan Catholic community. A group of concerned Catholics, including victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, have come forward with explosive allegations against Church leadership accusing them of politicisation, moral decay, and the mysterious disappearance of Rs. 1.311 billion in received funds.
The group held a fiery press conference in Colombo, demanding transparency and spiritual accountability. “This Church must not serve political interests. It must serve God, truth, and the people,” one speaker declared, voicing what many described as long-held grievances.
The heart of the press conference centred around two major concerns: the moral corruption of sacred Church spaces and the lack of public accountability regarding large monetary donations received in the past few years.
Speakers painted a disturbing picture of how Church premises have reportedly been misused. One participant alleged that sacred spaces were transformed into venues where dead bodies were stored for days and casino-style gambling had occurred. “This is not what sacred spaces are for. It’s a violation of everything we hold sacred,” the speaker stated, drawing gasps from the audience.
More shockingly, the group revealed that Rs. 311 million had been received through court-related compensation, and an additional Rs. 1 billion came from various Muslim social organisations. Yet, they alleged, no public accounting exists of how these Rs. 1.311 billion in total funds have been spent. “People have a right to know. Victims are still waiting for justice, yet there’s silence about how this money has been used,” said one visibly emotional speaker.
The group did not stop there. They blasted the rise of online commentators particularly those on YouTube who they say have further muddied the waters. “Some may be well-intentioned, but much of it is irresponsible and damaging. It undermines trust and creates further confusion,” a member warned, accusing certain content creators of distorting facts to mislead the faithful.
A particularly damning segment of the press conference was directed at Father Jude Chrishantha, the official spokesperson for the Archbishop of Colombo. His recent controversial endorsement of the death penalty drew harsh criticism from the group, who claimed such rhetoric is completely inconsistent with Catholic doctrine.
“Calling for someone to be hanged is not part of Catholic teaching. It contradicts the very principles of mercy and dignity of life. If he cannot apologise, then he should remove his robe and go home. He no longer represents us or the faith we stand for,” a speaker thundered.
As the event concluded, one message stood out clearly and unequivocally: the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka must return to its spiritual mission. “This must end,” the group declared. “The Church must stop pandering to political interests. It must serve God, not governments.”
The conference has sparked a nationwide conversation about faith, money, and moral leadership. Whether Church authorities will respond remains to be seen, but the pressure is rising. Sri Lanka’s Catholics have drawn a line in the sand and the call for reform is only getting louder.
