Colombage Melani Manel Perera

World Mission Day is celebrated in all parishes. For Fr Basil, the task of every Christian is “to proclaim the Good News,” i.e. that Jesus is alive.

The initiative aims to encourage Catholics to pray for the presidential elections on 16 November. The ceremony took place on 13 October at Ekala-Jaela parish. Members of the World Apostolate of Fatima also participated.

Card Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, backs Fr Ashok Stephen’s action to force the government “to take care of the people and protect the innocent".

The island nation’s south-west and east are the most affected areas. About a hundred millimetres of rain have fallen in the past few days, but twice as much is expected over the next couple of days. The ongoing bad weather is atypical.

The group came from Jaffna peninsula, torn by civil war for almost 30 years, to pray for the recovery of the wounded and harmony between religious communities. Sirisena accepts the bishops' request and appoints an independent commission of inquiry.

Survivors of the 21 April bombings are working out their grief their own way. Some do not accept what happened; others are relying on their capacity to adapt. The sense of community has also been affected, and the trauma has also caused "sensory disintegration".

Every year an international ten-day gathering is held during which Islamic clerics and religious leaders speak. In the first session, the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq (religious leader) discussed the vices that corrupt the soul and damage society. Radical Buddhist monks opposed the conference.

For the Day of the Sick, pilgrims flocked from all over Sri Lanka. "We received blessings in body and spirit," some pilgrims said. Card Gualtiero Bassetti, who visited the Christian churches attacked at Easter, led the ceremony of the blessing of the sick.

According to advocacy groups, Muslim women are treated as second-class citizens. The existing law dates back to 1951. For the past 30 years, attempts have been made to change the law to include a minimum age. Child brides are commonplace. Rape against married teens is not punished.

The man is the Sri Lankan People's Front candidate. He was Secretary of Defense during his brother Mahinda's regime and defeated the Tamil Tigers rebels. Supporters consider him a "war hero". Tamil and Sinhalese women: "If he comes to power, he will begin a new period of violence, kidnappings and killings".

The assault has raised concern among Christians, already shocked by the Easter Sunday attacks. Methodist Church president says he trusts the justice system. In his view, Buddhists can enjoy their faith as they wish, and so should let Christians do the same.

The Sri Lankan Prime Minister reported to the Parliamentary Select Committee. “My security officials were not informed,” he said. Some 263 people died in the 21 April attacks. President Sirisena has not invited the prime minister to Security Council meetings since October 2018.