Media should strive to bring unity in society : Cardinal

150 years of Catholic weekly ‘Messenger’ paper

Media must evolve towards fulfilling the needs of today’s society which needs unity like never before, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said on Monday.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 150 years of the Catholic weekly ‘Messenger’ paper, the cardinal said media should strive towards bringing all sections of the society together. “Media must strive towards bringing about unity among the sections of the society rather than working towards divisions in the society,” he said. Cardinal said it is important for the media to engage in such an exercise at present times where social media had become a powerful force which divides society. He said media should understand the role it is expected to play rather than allowing themselves to be controlled by certain businessman and politicians. Referring to the Sri Lankan Catholic weekly the ‘Catholic Messenger’ the prelate said the publication came into being during the colonial period and then played its role at a time where much emphasis was made on a Sri Lankan identity in post independence period during the 1950s . “Messenger went on and evolved with the happenings in the society during the activities carried out by the youth in the country during 1970s where they made an effort to make an impact on the society. The paper then evolved through the civil war. Now it is time for the Catholic Messenger to focus its role in the modern society,” he added.