Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has called for an international probe into the cause of the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking in a televised Mass on March 15, the archbishop of Colombo said powerful countries cannot be allowed to play with the lives of the innocent public. He said that experimenting with nature had resulted in the coronavirus.

“We know that in several areas of the world researchers of all types for various reasons are engaging in research to destroy human life and nature. Some of these viruses are the products of aimless experiments,” said Cardinal Ranjith.

“This kind of research is done not by people in poor countries but in laboratories in rich countries. Producing such things is a very serious crime for mankind.

“I ask the Lord to reveal who made these poisonous seeds. The United Nations or international organizations must find out who is behind these incidents and punish them. Such research should be banned.”

The cardinal’s comments came as the Sri Lankan Church cancelled Masses and other services in all parishes because of a rapid rise of coronavirus cases in the country.

It announced on March 15 that it is cancelling all church services until the end of the month. The decision came in the middle of the Lenten season that features common gatherings such as the Way of the Cross, Lenten pilgrimages, group meditation, healing services and group prayer services.

In a press briefing, Cardinal Ranjith requested all political parties to join together to fight Covid-19 while asking people not to gather extra goods unnecessarily.

The number of infections in Sri Lanka has risen to 18. Most of the patients had arrived from Italy recently.