His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith declared the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of His Eminence Late Thomas Benjamin Cardinal Cooray at the Eucharistic celebration held on 29th Oct. 2010 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatta.

His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith preside at the Eucharistic Celebration together with His Excellency Archbishop Joseph Spiteri the Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka, His Grace Archbishop Emertius Nicholas Marcus Fernando, His Grace Archbishop Emeritus Oswald Gomis, Very Rev. Fr. Clement Waidysekara the Oblate Provincial, Very Rev. Fr. Francis Senanayake the Judicial Vicar and several other Fathers. A large crowd of faithful participated in the Memorial Mass.

His Eminence Thomas Benjamin Cardinal Cooray from the Parish of Periyamulla, Negombo, was born on 28th December 1901, was ordained a priest on 23rd June 1929 in the Congregation of Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Thereafter he was appointed as the Co-adjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo on 12th December 1945 and succeeded as the Archbishop of Colombo on 26th July 1947.

He was elevated as a Cardinal on 22nd February 1965 by Pope Paul VI.

His Eminence was called to Eternal Rest in the Lord on 29th October 1988 and his mortal remains were buried in the crypt chapel in the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatta on 03rd November 1988.

New York Times issue on 01st No. 1988, quoted, ''During the years of suppression or limitation of religious freedom, Cardinal Cooray constantly affirmed the spirituality of his own mission and the loyalty of Roman Catholics'' to the Sri Lankan Government, the Vatican said."

His Grace the Archbishop Emeritus Oswald Gomis, who was very closely associting with His Eminence, preaching at the Mass held on 29th Oct. 2008 at the Basilica, recalled the exceptional holiness and simple, but deep faith of Cardinal Cooray. Archbishop Gomis said, " the fragrance of his holiness and faith spread throughout the Archdiocese of Colombo, when he became the first Sri Lankan Archbishop of Colombo and the first Cardinal of Sri Lanka and first Cardinal who had opportunity to vote in the conclave in choosing the pope. In fact he twice had the opportunity vote in the conclave..Being appointed as the Archbishop of Colombo, he had a vision for the Archdiocese and for the Church in Sri Lanka. To serve the faithful in the Archdiocese, he wanted spiritually well equipped and virtuous priests. Then on 07th March 1950, he laid the foundation for the Minor Seminary and trained students with a missionary commitment.Seminary formation was a priority for His Eminence."

" In 1960's our schools were taken over by the government, not on a vision of better education but to attack the Catholic Church and to disrupt the religious education. His Eminence deeply disturbed by the "School Takeover Bill" appealed to the government to give at least the primary schools. Government having realized that there were more students in the primary departments rather than middle schools, primary schools were taken over by the government Then the Church in Sri Lanka had find ways and means to educate our children and maintain religious education in the schools."

" His Eminence was also concern of the economy of the Archdiocese. He purchased lands for future schools and churches and estates to strengthen the economy of the Archdiocese. He even convinced the Brothers to work in the estates during the holidays to support the Archdiocese. Look at the Basilica Watta, many trees planted here are rare and they were very carefull chosen and planted by His Eminence. Not only he purchased lands for the Archdiocese, but also he was concern about the welfare of the other dioceses as well. Once on his way to Madhu Shrine, he met his friend Fr. Emilianus Pillai OMI, who later became the Bishop of Jaffna looking after Anuradhapura diocese as well. Fr. Emilianus informed Cardinal Cooray about a Catholic Community in Alagollewa and who had no services of a priest. His Eminence not only arranged a priest to lookafter the Catholic Community at Alagollewa, but also personally visited those areas and purchased lands for the present diocese of Anuradhapura."

" Thomas Cardinal Cooray was truly a very committed and dedicated holy priest of God.Holiness of his life spread wherever he went. His unassuming life style, the fraternaly way he spoke to the priests calling them "my sons", his pastoral zeal to visit his people very often in accordance of his episcopal motto - "ministrare non ministrari" - to serve and not to be served and these qualities of his life brought musch desired changes in the transition of the Archdiocese."

" In the early days of World War II Archbishop Jean Marie Masson, the last Frenchman to be Metropolitan of Sri Lanka, made a vow in 1940 to the Blessed Mother to build a Marian shrine in her honour if the country was saved from the ravages of the war. His Eminence Cardinal Cooray, kept the vow made by Archbishop Masson and started to build this beautiful Basilica, slowly but steadily inspite of the criticisms. Some were asking, why build a huge basilica instead of building houses for the poor. His Eminence not only purchased lands for the poor but also built houses for them. Amidst all the work, His Eminence completed the construction of the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka."

" Today we have come together to thank the Lord for the holy and committed life of His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Cooray and to pay our respect to him. More than our praying for him, ask him to pray for us and for our country."