Col Memara

In a message to lay people and religious, the archbishop of Colombo called for "intensification" of prayer for peace in the country, where civil war rages in the north and east. A candle should be lit before each crib as a symbol of union in prayer with the Child Jesus.

The bishop of Jaffna said he believed a government proposal to reopen the A9 to deliver aid to the Tamils was "sincere". But the leader of the rebels has charged Colombo with using the peace process to conceal its desire to annihilate the ethnic minority.

Fisher folk held rallies and gatherings to mark World Fisheries Day, in a bid to drawn attention to their plight, affected by many of the country's problems. After the tsunami, the government built big hotels but did not alleviate the misery of fishing communities, and big fisheries are now poaching their work.

President Rajapakse tables the 2007 budget whose focus is help for agriculture and small businesses. He makes an appeal to Tamil Tigers but raises defence spending by 45 per cent.

In view of a humanitarian crisis in the north, an NGO from Negombo ships 500 packs of baby formula to the bishop of Jaffna who will hand them out to the needy. Street protests take place against the government's indifference towards the plight of the Tamil population.

Heavy rains began on October 27 killing 23 people and forcing 75,000 from their homes. Caritas and local parishes give out food to the fleeing population now sheltering in churches and Buddhist temples.

The government is offering rebel deserters a change for employment aboard after rehabilitation at home.