Melani Manel Perera

Taking advantage of a three-day public holiday, thousands of Catholics headed to the Marian shrine, one of the country’s most famous religious sites. Whole families with children in tow prayed for their loved ones and thanked Our Lady for healings. “It was really worth spending three days of our holiday,” said one pilgrim.

As Sri Lanka’s prime minister goes to China to ink the final deal, activists take to the streets to protest, delivering two petitions to the secretaries of the prime minister and the president. Fishermen are willing to bear the cost of the cancellation of the US$ 1.5 billion Chinese project in order to save the local environment and their means of subsistence.

NAFSO’s Fisher Women Federation gives the minister of Women and Child Affairs documents and a petition signed by 10,000 people. The Federation wants the government to adopt policies that are women- and girl-friendly. Its focus is the gender wage gap, workplace exploitation, and emigration.

The Negombo Department of Education held a seminar on national unity attended by students of various religions, excited to share messages of peace and harmony. One student would like to see the experience done at least three times a month. Only this way can her age cohorts create true bonds of friendship that transcend ethnic and religious differences.

About 500, religious and faithful, march through the streets of Negombo. The families of fishermen point out that the recent resumption of construction of the port project has already led to the death of the fish. The vicar general notes that "the Church in Sri Lanka is not against development, but against those projects that, in the name of development, destroy nature and fishermen’s livelihood".

There are 57 religious in the country, operating in seven dioceses alongside needy and disabled. The regional superior: "On September 4, we will not be in Rome, but we will celebrate the canonization with our poor." In the country "many miracles have occurred through her intercession."

The government has started a process of constitutional reform through public consultations. Some 5,000 submissions were received from across the country. The goal is to amend the 1977 Constitution. Points of discussion include changing the system of government from semi-presidential to parliamentary, respect for minorities, and protection for everyone’s rights.

The president returned 701 acres of land to their rightful owners, 650 Tamil families Thelippalei in and 50 in Kopai. The latter is the first village where land seized during the civil war was returned. After 25 years, a village school in Thelippalei is returned. Plans are in the work to build 65,000 houses for displaced people.

A petition is circulating destined for President Sirisena. So far, some 50,000 people have signed on. For business executive, "Every Buddhist celebration is a holiday. Why shouldn’t we participate in the Passion of the Lord?” At present, Good Friday is a holiday only for banks and government offices.

All the schools in the Rehan Dilsara’s home district have refused to enrol the 6-year-old boy, following protests from other parents fearful of infection. Ignorance and discrimination are at the root of the rumours. The child’s case has highlighted the country’s high level of infection, and the social problems people living with the disease face. Two schools are willing to take him, but they are too far from his home. Sri Lanka’s president says he will do something.

A group of religious and lay Catholics published a 12-page booklet in Tamil, Sinhalese and English with the highlights of five speeches by Pope Francis and President Sirisena. The purpose of the visit to Sri Lanka was "primarily pastoral" and the focus of the pope’s speeches was "truth and reconciliation”.

The archbishop of Colombo led the ceremony celebrating the centennial of the first church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes in the country. Since 1948, the Virgin protects the country as Our Lady of Lanka. About 3,000 people attended the Mass and the procession with Our Lady’s statue. Pope Francis sent a message.