Colombo (AsiaNews) - A group of Catholics in the diocese of Mannar in northern Sri Lanka, charge they are subjected to a life  "without access to basic needs” and as a result will not be able to" celebrate Christmas ". Driven from their village in 2006 by the war between government troops and Tamil Tigers (LTTE), the faithful have been unable to set foot in "Mullikulam" – a village 95% Catholic - even after the war and declare: " Today we too are refugees, like Mary and Joseph. "

Christmas has not brought peace and serenity to the heart of the youth of the Diocese of Mannar, forced to survive without adequate food, clothing and other basic primary necessities. " "We are not in any condition - they say - to celebrate the festive season, either physically and mentally." The displaced, who have been kept from their land for four years, recall that they are "the owners" of their village (Mullikulam in Mannar in the north), but " government authorities have seized everything."

In 2006 about 200 families lived in Mullikulam, where they had a "prosperous and peaceful” life. The village was home to thousands of cultivated land and a 15 km strip of  sea for fishing. People lacked neither food or water, but today - still refugees - "our dignity has been crushed by the rulers, who have stolen our lives transforming us into refugees." Clarice Dharshan, a young refugee, said she had "celebrated Christmas in the village until 2006." She confirms that there are no jobs for their parents and "the arrival of the rainy season has further complicated the situation."

According to the young people’s testimony, Mullikulam refugees receive only "rice, sugar, flour and coconut oil" but in insufficient quantities to meet family needs, and not even on a “regular” basis. "We have lost the joy of Christmas - Clarice ends – we have even lost our peace of hearts and so we have launched an appeal to authorities in Sri Lanka, to draw up " a proper plan. "

Anthony Jesudasan, program coordinator of Sustainable Development, created in collaboration with NAFSA, said that this year the government "has taken away from these people the right to celebrate Christmas." And government promises, he adds, remain just empty words. "These people - claims activist - face more problems than those experienced by Mary and Joseph when they were themselves refugees." He also appealed for the intervention of the Catholic Church in Mannar, for the rehousing of displaced persons.