Melani Manel Perera

Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims take part in a rally inspired by satyagraha (non-violent) in Colombo. People sat in silence, urging the government to "take full responsibility for these brutal killings."

After a week of peaceful demands, the government deploys troops in Weliweriya to stop demonstrators asking for drinking water. Shooting to kill, soldiers fatally wound three young people and injure an additional 45. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd were threatened with death as they tried to protect the fleeing kids. The parish priest at St Anthony recalls the "utter fear".

Three villages get undrinkable water, unfit even for bathing. For a week, 5,000 men and women of all ages protested peacefully demanding the closure of a plant that dumps industrial waste into waterways. In trying to disperse protesters, soldiers and police ended up causing clashes.

Members of the ultra-nationalist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) speak of "threat to national security" and calls on the government to ban the garment. Muslim activist: "Dangerous trend that exploits patriotism to justify exclusive, violent and destructive attacks against minorities."

For some young people, an international event like World Youth Day is an opportunity "to share feelings, opinions and ideas, suggesting new paths to the world." This year in Rio, there will not be a Sri Lankan delegation.

In the Northern Province, the army continues a policy of forced evictions, unmoved by protests from the local population. Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam files a petition with the country's Court of Appeal of the country.

Over a year ago, the 25-year-old Buddhist woman married Sagara, a Catholic, who has never asked her to convert. They married in a mixed ceremony in order not to hurt her parents. Today, she is studying the catechism and is getting ready for her baptism.

Monks accuse India of failing to protect the sacred complex, but Indian Embassy in Colombo refuses to see them. The Dalai Lama tries to cool things, blaming only a "few individuals" for an act that is not very serious.

Denounced by the Right to Life, an NGO in the country, in a meeting that heard testimonies of some victims. In order to extract confessions, law enforcement officials beat and abuse suspected criminals. The use of chili peppers on eyes and genitals is one of the most common practices.

Fr Emmanuel Sebamalei, president of the Mannar Citizen Committee (MCC), slams abuses by the armed forces in the north of the country. Recently, the army prevented Mannar District officials from participating in a workshop on land grabs by the military.

Some vandals destroyed a statue of the Virgin and attempted to set fire to the shrine of St. Francis Xavier in Angulana (Archdiocese of Colombo). The consecrated hosts, however, remained intact and the faithful see this a sign from Jesus: "No one can destroy the love of Christ."

The Purnodaya Institute has helped more than 600 children. Tomorrow, for the start of the festivities, a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Colombo. The founder of the center: "the work of the past 25 years is a source of great pride for us, the Lord’s love and blessing have made this possible."