Colombage Melani Manel Perera

The Association was established in France by Fr Pierre-Bienvenu Noailles. The students of the Holy Family Convent Girls’ School in Bambalapitiya are grateful for the blessings received in recent years, including vocations. They pray for the for the country for the similar blessing.

The first case involves a woman from China’s Hubei province who arrived on a tourist visa on 19 January. Visitors are not allowed in the country’s international airport. Two toll-free numbers provide information about the infection. Returning Sri Lankan students in China will be placed under quarantine.

For activists, the evidence and details to substantiate the head of state's claims are lacking. The issue of missing persons "is not only a political fact, but also has legal implications and deeply affects their families".

Prabahath Gamage, 62, came close to losing his life as a child. He was healed by invoking the forgiveness of the Christian martyr, whom he had offended in a gesture he took lightly.

In 2009 Lasantha Wickrematunge was assassinated in broad daylight on his way to work as editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper. He had criticised abuses under former President Mahinda Rajapaska as well as Tamil Tiger violence.

A group of students visited the Apeksha (Hope) Cancer Hospital in Maharagama. “We wanted to share the joy of the birth of our Saviour with a group of real fighters, struggling desperately against cancer,” said one student. For the patients, “every day the hope is to wake up alive. For the parents of those little children, every day the hope is to see their children alive,” said another.

The altercation video "is creating embarrassment" between Buddhists and Christians. For the president of the Methodist bishops, both people involved are wrong: "We must understand that the attitude with which we carry out our religious work is of supreme importance".

The annual Christmas carols at Holy Family Convent (HFC) School highlight unity. The traditional nativity scene has been given further meaning by the addition of four characters representing Sri Lanka’s four main communities.

The St Paul the Hermit pre-school, run by Franciscan nuns, is the beneficiary of the gift. The Club is made up of alumni from St Benedict's College in Colombo. For the Club’s secretary, “The determination to serve the little ones is a reflection of the importance and attention that Jesus Christ gave to children throughout his life”.

The Archbishop of Colombo calls for greater protection of Masses on Christmas eve and day. He urges the faithful to avoid lavish celebrations out of respect from those who lost family and friends. Rediscovering the true meaning of Christmas is about "unity and sharing".

Caritas Colombo and the Negombo interreligious committee are behind the initiative. Sinhalese, Catholics and Buddhists remain suspicious of Muslims. Visit includes exams for blood pressure and breast cancer, as well as free medicines.

The archbishop of Colombo was invited by the Palestinian ambassador to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Embassy. For the occasion, an oil lamp was brought from Bethlehem. For the cardinal, peace will never be achieved unless “Palestinians live with dignity in their own state". The three great religions “must learn to unite people, not divide them” whilst “world powers must not intrude”.