Political interventions always work in this country in respect of the holy, the not-so-holy and the unholy alike. When the Catholic Church opposed Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga’s massive Christmas tree project the other day we thought its decision was well informed and final.

But, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has, following an intervention made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on behalf of Minister Ranatunga, budged on the issue, and the Christmas tree project is back on track, we are told. The prelate is reported to have said he was under the impression that as much as Rs. 200 mn from the public purse was being spent on the project, but he now is informed that the real cost is only Rs. 12 mn and no public funds are being used. Hence, he has softened his stand on the project.

We are intrigued. We thought the Cardinal’s opposition to the waste of money was based on principle rather than the provenance of funds for the project and/or the quantum thereof because he is an ardent follower of Pope Francis, who condemns the extravagance in all its forms and manifestations regardless of where funds come from.

Are we to gather from the Cardinal’s excuse for his volte face that he is not opposed to the waste of funds that do not belong to the state, on Ozymandian projects, in the name of Christmas? We are afraid that his position is at variance with that of the People’s Pope, whom even non-Catholics can’t stop loving.

It may be recalled that Pope Francis, while leaving Sri Lanka in 2015 following a highly successful visit, returned a cash donation of more than Rs. 8.7 million from the Catholic Bishops to the Archbishop of Colombo, requesting that it be utilised to help the poor in this country. ‘Even the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer!’ Jesus was a rebel and so is the incumbent Pontiff. When such great leaders speak the world listens. May their tribe increase!

The onus is on the priests of all religions to urge the laity to desist from using religious festivals as excuses for indulging in mindless waste and urge them to look after the less fortunate ones among them.

Arjuna’s Christmas tree is sure to attract massive crowds, but that should not mean waste is justified. If a musical show were to be held at the Galle Face Green as part of Christmas celebrations—God forbid!—there would be bigger crowds.

It is being argued in some quarters that the Galle Face Christmas Tree will give a turbo boost to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. But, it is doubtful whether foreigners will flock in their thousands here from the four corners of the earth to see it. The best way to promote tourism is to make hotel prices competitive without keeping them artificially high.

Most religious festivals are characterised by extravagance. Vesak thorana or pandals, where people miss Jathaka stories for myriads of colourful lights have not made this country any better. It is sad but true that Santa and Christmas trees have become closer to children’s hearts than Jesus.

A collective of concerned citizens including doctors and social workers have launched a noble campaign, Little Hearts, to build a cardiac and critical care complex to provide timely treatment to all children with heart diseases at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo. About 10 out of 1,000 infants born in Sri Lanka, which is home to four great religions, die before they reach their first birthday owing to congenital heart diseases, the main cause of infant deaths in this country.

The Little Hearts project deserves unstinted support from one and all. But, surprisingly, we have not yet heard any prelate, Buddhist or Christian or Islamic or Hindu, making an appeal to the public to contribute to the Little Hearts fund generously to save thousands of infants whose untimely deaths are preventable. Tills of many places of worship overflow with money and gold daily. With less than one percent of their monthly income the Lady Ridgeway cardiac and critical care complex for children can be completed.

Sri Lankans, regardless of their religious differences, cherish the memory of Fr. Marceline Jayakody, one of the few prelates who were genuinely interested in looking after the needy. He famously said this about Christmas: Mage naththala dugiya bath kanadaya—‘My Christmas is the day the poor partake of rice’. The demise of such great religious leaders, who, as social reformers besides being eminent priests, inspire their followers and others alike, leaves a huge void which can never be filled; their loss is felt forever.

The mindless waste of funds on ego boosting projects in the name of religious festivals must be stopped. ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’