Melani Manel Perera

Land was expropriated from Sampoor villagers by former President Rajapaksa. About 825 families were forced to live as displaced persons in refugee camps. A Tamil: "We are happy, even if we have to start all over again." EU, India, UNHCR and UNICEF finance the construction of new homes. Sirisena appeals: "Let us live together as brothers and sisters, without fear."

A lawyer by profession, the leader is prime minister for the fourth time. He holds the record of having kept the parliamentary seat for 38 years in a row. He is also the most voted for political ever in an election. Congratulated by world leaders.

The former president concedes defeat. Ranil Wickremasinghe, UNP candidate, will be sworn in tomorrow as prime minister. The appeal of the new prime minister to create a "civilized society, with equal opportunities for all".

Over 15 million registered voters, 6,161 candidates for the 225 parliamentary seats. The elections will decide the new Prime Minister. The vote is taking place in a peaceful atmosphere.

Fr Reid Shelton Fernando calls on the faithful to vote well next Monday. Prayers but also the Holy Scriptures and Church documents should help pick the right candidates.

Voters will pick a new prime minister and parliament. Religious leaders call on them to choose candidates for their honesty and ability, not their political affiliation.

Shanika and Sriyani, two Buddhists, embraced Catholicism. For the nun who followed the two catechumens, their journey of faith “was a blessing.”

Despite a new policy adopted last February, villagers have not yet been able to return home. For this reason, they filed a petition with the Human Rights Commission.

The 18-year-old Tamil woman talks about the horrors and consequences of ethnic conflict, including the loss of family, work, and home. Jobless parents cannot pay for their children’s education. Dilakshini dreams of becoming “a great woman and work for this society."

Although the country’s civil war ended many years ago, the legacy of the bloody conflict between the government and Tamil rebels is still felt. Refugees are still forced to move as the government seizes their lands. The latest trend has been to use farmland for tourist development. The net effect of the situation is that refugee children have easy access to drugs but no access to education. After 100 days in power, “we expected something better” from President Sirisena.

A young man detained by police in 2008 did not return. An innocent Sinhalese fisherman ​​died in prison after 14 years. Former President Rajapaksa’s police tortured a Buddhist monk 21 times. AsiaNews relays these stories on World Day against Torture in Sri Lanka.

The Encyclical on environmental protection should inspire all new political projects. The planet’s development must go hand in hand with curbing unbridled economic development. By the end of the century, there will be 250 million "climate refugees". The race for profit, political pressure, and corruption also touches Sri Lankan society.