Cardinal condemns poll candidates who use his name

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has urged candidates not to use him or his photographs in their election campaigns.

The Cardinal said it had been brought to his notice that certain candidates contesting the forthcoming general election have utilized photographs taken with him for propaganda purposes.

"In any case, neither I nor the Archdiocese of Colombo have aligned ourselves with any political party or connected groups or persons seeking electoral gains. Such acts have been done without my consent," said the 72-year-old archbishop of Colombo in a media statement on July 18.

"It is an inalienable right of every citizen to exercise his or her right to vote in keeping with the dictates of their own conscience," he added.