Melani Manel Perera

It is the initiative of the Archdiocese to oppose the Government's proposal to legalize abortion. Official figures Ministry of Health speak of 300 thousand abortions in 2011. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith: "To protect children we must help their mothers. Human life must be respected from conception. "

The country greets the approval of UN resolution on war crimes in Sri Lanka with threats to journalists and human rights activists. Minister of Transport: "I will break the legs of the journalists who speak ill of the country." Intimidation against the 71 Sri Lankan delegates in Geneva. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Council: "The Government must dissociate itself from these statements."

The motion is adopted with 24 votes in favour, 15 against and 8 abstentions. Across the country, thousands of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians protest against the decision. Interfaith activities are planned to back the government.

Students from St Nicholas and Holy Cross schools range between 9 and 16 years of age. Teachers want to teach them about Lent and help them build friendships. Older kids prepare intentions to explain the Passion and Calvary of Christ to younger pupils.

Sri Lanka exports tea, textiles and gemstones to the United States (19.6 per cent) and Great Britain (10.4 per cent). Washington backs UN resolution on war crimes. A British documentary purports to show the dead body of the Tamil Tigers leader after being killed by Sri Lankan troops.

Bishop Joseph Rayappu and 30 other priests are asking the Rights United Nations Council for Human to push the Rajapaksa Government to recognize their war crimes. Seizures of human rights activists, hate campaigns against non-governmental journalists; disorder of peaceful protests, witnesses never heard of violence amid post-conflict government abuses.

Annual celebrations (3 and 4 March) were held on Kachchathive, an island between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's Navy organised the celebrations, doing some road repair and handing out food. Religious from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka co-celebrated the Eucharist.

For the past seven months, civil rights group Right to Life has organised a protest to demand an investigation into the clashes that occurred on 30 May 2012 in Katunayake Free Trade Zone. Roshen Chanaka, 21, was killed at the time and eight more young workers were injured. Two are now paralysed. So far, police has failed to investigate the matter.

Bishops urge the government to translate all of its documents in both Tamil and Sinhalese, draw up the list of people who went missing during the civil war and dismantle all illegal armed groups. The government focuses instead on big economic projects and disregards the country's real problems, like its 200,000 internally displaced people and its 39,000 war widows, who live without aid or work. The bishops' Conference calls for a Sri Lankan identity, not one that is either Sinhalese or Tamil.

The United Nations resolution alleges abuses that Sri Lankan soldiers and Tamil rebels committed abuses during the country's civil war. The government accuses the UN and Western powers of interfering in its domestic affairs. In April 2011, a UN report blamed the Sri Lankan air force of killing 40,000 people.

Twelve women, Catholic and Hindu from Thumpalachcholai have not see their husbands, sons and brothers since the end of ethnic conflict. No response or aid from the authorities. The police had interrogated some, suspected of being Tamil rebels. Aid of some NGOs.

The message of the Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka for Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. This year's theme is "Unity through reconciliation". Invitation to the faithful not to limit themselves to ceremonies, but to build a relationship with God, to share an authentic Easter.