Melani Manel Perera

The archbishop of Colombo speaks at the diocesan day for Catholic teachers who must help pupils recognise the “religious and moral values in their life” to become “mature and intelligent adults in society”.

Coloured balloons, an art exhibit and a silent march mark World Mental Health Day. The goal is to raise awareness about the plight of mental patients, who are often stigmatised. Some 500 patients, doctors, nurses, volunteers, university students and families with children were present at the event.

The capital goes over to the United National Party (UNP), the main opposition party. The Asia Human Rights Commission slams the authorities for trying to sweep under the carpet the violence that marred the poll.

Nearly 1,400 cases in the second half of 2011, at least two or three a week. Female prostitution (more than 8,000 women) and homosexual prostitution are the environments most at risk. In Asia, there are 10 million sex workers, and 75 million male clients. 5,000 people die every day of the virus.

In a rehabilitation and assistance centre Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang the Samiti Sahay (Bmvss), India's number one NGO in the world, has distributed 535 artificial limbs, 228 mechanical braces and 400 crutches. Among them was the famous "Jaipur foot" a low cost artificial limb (just 28 dollars), durable, waterproof and flexible, allowing users to run and ride a bicycle.

Some 700 clinics are set up in the country’s public hospitals, offering free diagnostic tests. Each year, 500 women die from this form of cancer; women between 35 and 40 years are the most at risk.

Gas is located in the Mannar Basin (north-west) at a depth of 1,354 metres. Cairn Lanka, a subsidiary of Cairn India Ltd, began drilling in August.

An awareness seminar for candidates for the next election (October 8) in 23 local authorities, including Colombo. Improvement and city development are the central campaign themes. The priests of the Centre for Social and Religion to the candidates: "Use the voting power of citizens to improve their condition, not for your purposes."

The Sri Lankan government wants to close the last of its refugee camps, and transfer the refugees into the jungle, to a village that is being prepared. But there is no water, sewers, schools or places of worship. An appeal to internazional organizations.

The denunciation of the Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM). In the Northern Province, the army is still in service and imposes continuing restrictions, despite the end of the war in 2009. Christian activists for human rights: "An end to silence, we must act to protect our brothers and sisters."

The restitution of property, the resettlement of IDPs, the release of innocent young people and respect for human rights are the topics discussed at the congress of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF). The party leader V. Anandasari denounced the misconduct of former cadre from the LTTE (Tamil Tigers), today members of Sri Lankan services.

In an interview, A.R.M. Itmtiyaz, political scientist of Temple University in Philadelphia, looks at the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), a party that wants a seat at the peace table with Tamils and Sinhalese. For the academic, the party, which is part of the ruling alliance, should instead be more concerned about the rise of fundamentalism within its own community.