ASIA/SRI LANKA - Promote peace and development, facing the challenge of the Tamil: Rajapaksa's homework

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

SRI LANKA

2024-04-22
Commemoration of the victims of the Easter attacks: Catholic Church wants to initiate the beatification process of their martyrdom

2024-03-05
Resignation and appointment of Bishop of Ratnapura

2024-03-04
Easter attacks: the Catholic community prays and is committed to recognizing its "martyrs"

2023-12-11
Appointment of Bishop of Chilaw

2023-11-30
Over 5 thousand children from all over the country celebrate the 180th Anniversary of Missionary Childhood by helping their peers

2023-11-18
Bishop of Kandy: "Our Catholics are poor in material means but rich in faith"

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - “We hope that the elected president will work to promote peace and development in the nation: these are priority concerns." This is what Bishop Vianney Fernando, President of the Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka, told Agenzia Fides, as the country hears the results of its presidential elections.
According to official data, the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa has won 58% of the vote and has been confirmed as leader of the country, registering 5.9 million votes, out of about 9.84 million votes. His opponent, General Sarath Fonseka, obtained 4.1 million votes, representing about 40% of the votes.
According to some rumors in the morning, the General was at the point of being arrested by army officials in Colombo, an event that would have led to tensions and violence. Fears remounted as a senior officer stated that only "some deserters will be arrested." The electoral campaign has also seen numerous incidents of violence.
"We are hoping for a peaceful and democratic evolution of the situation. Democracy takes its course, we respect that and hope for a bright future for the country, especially in resolving the issues relating to the Tamil minority," the President of the Bishops' Conference told Fides,.
The Tamil population (13% of the population that is 75% Sinhalese) is found mostly in the North. Contacted by Fides, missionary of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Father M. Prevwn, OMI, Director of the Center for Peace and Reconciliation located in Jaffna, says: "The Tamil community is disheartened. People say that there is little hope for the future and there is fear that the Tamil will still be penalized. Mistrust is also evident in the number of those who have gone to the polls in Jaffna: only 20%."
Words like "peace and reconciliation," notes the missionary, “work here especially with children and young people. We work with them, creating many programs for integration on an ethnic (between Sinhalese and Tamil) and religious (with believers of all religions) level. Making efforts with the new generations, and with the help of government programs, a future of peace and reconciliation can be established for the country." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/01/2010)