Melani Manel Perera

No illegal activity in the shelter for unmarried mothers run by the Missionaries of Charity. The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), chiefly responsible for the arrest of religious, must return records and documents to the orphanage.

Almost three since the end of the civil war, the northern peninsula has one one soldier for every 11 civilians, that is 40-50,000 troops out of a population of 600,000. About 39,000 war widows and 200,000 internally displaced people are still waiting. Tamils too are waiting for the government to provide housing, jobs, land and aid.

The Centre for Performing Arts (CPA) celebrates its 46th anniversary. Founded in 1965 by a Catholic priest, it opened up nationally because of the civil war. Finding new talents is its goal.

The government made an "unofficial" apology, but the church wants an official statement withdrawing all charges against Sister Eliza and the hostel for unmarried mothers. On 15 December there will be the first hearing.

" Tamil Indians " in Sri Lanka (originally from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu) still have no right to citizenship or basic rights: work, food, home and land. Even women and children suffer discrimination. Although Sri Lanka is a signatory of the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The archbishop of Colombo breaks the Church’s silence on the Prem Nivasa case, which involves the Missionaries of Charity allegedly selling the babies of unwed mothers. The cardinal attacks the lies and ambiguities reported in local media, announces that he will not take part in any official event until the truth comes out. He calls on the country’s Catholics to pray for “the misguided people” who made the accusations and “the good mission of the sisters in Sri Lanka.”

The archbishop of Colombo presents the Year of the Word of God (27 November-10 October 2012), which “is the very foundation of committed Christian living.”

Trial will open on December 15. Police ask for time for further investigation. Much criticism from the Catholic world on Church silence. Some fear that there is an attempt to encourage Buddhist orphanages behind the charge.

Sister Eliza, Missionary of Charity, had to change convent, hand over her passport and is prohibited from leaving the country. An anonymous phone call accuses the religious of illicit trafficking of children in their hostel for unmarried mothers.

The first Missionary of Charity to be jailed, she was accused following an anonymous tipoff. Sister Eliza runs a hostel for unwed mothers. Confusion surrounds her arrest. According to fellow nuns, the incident is due to an outdated registry.

129th anniversary of the birth of the Belgian cardinal, founder of the Young Christian Workers (YCW) movement in the late '40s. His method defines a new form of evangelisation in the workplace.

Defence spending still takes the lion share (LKR 230 billion or US$ 2.1 billion). The president expects growth to reach 8 per cent next year, with per capita incomes of US$ 4,000 by 2016. Economic opening to outside forces follows years of a self-centred path. Opposition parties, public sector workers and Catholics are critical. The 2012 budget does not focus on people-oriented development.