Melani Manel Perera

Sri Lanka’s president and Mgr Ranjith, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, meet in a warm tête-à-tête. Both hope for and are committed to state-Church co-operation to help the country’s development and the neediest social groups.

Archbishop Joseph Spiteri paid a pastoral visit to the north, recovering from a long civil war. He tells AsiaNews about his impressions and the challenges for the Church, and population in an area that is still very troubled.

Epidemiologists and health care unions slam the government for not investing resources to stop the spreading of dengue fever before the rainy season. The mosquito-borne virus causes tens of thousands of victims across Asia and Africa each year, during and right after the rains.

Cordial meeting in Colombo between Archbishop Ranjith and Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha. Reiterated the need to send home the many refugees of the long civil war. Kantha confirms India’s staunch support and hopes a future settlement of the Tamil-.

These women are mostly young, often with three or more children, uneducated and without a steady income. In the Eastern province, thousands of them do not have enough food for themselves or their children. As the latter grow up malnourished, many of the mothers leave the country to be exploited as domestic workers abroad. So far, the government has shown little interest in the matter.

Caritas Sri Lanka releases two guidebooks and a docudrama for Sri Lankans working abroad. The Catholic charity calls on the government to better protect Sri Lankans going abroad in search of work. It points out that, in some cases, wages are not even paid.

A joint celebration of workers of all ethnicities and faiths, to reaffirm the centrality of work in the life of the individual and society. Because "without the work of the people, a country has no future."

Meetings, rallies, conferences and religious services are held on International Workers’ Day. Fr Reid Shelton Fernando, coordinator of Young Christian Workers, discusses the situation workers have to face, with their rights denied, at the mercy of politicians. He also looks at what the Church can do to solve the problem.

More than 1000 soldiers, maimed by civil war, celebrate first New Year without war together. Races, songs, dances, and the desire to return now a new life.

Mgr Malcolm Ranjith writes to the Pontiff to express communion with the Pope and the Universal Church. The prelate calls on Sri Lanka Catholics to pray for Benedict XVI and his intentions. He slams an “organised and malicious” attack by international media.

Resolute stance of the Archbishop of Colombo, at the inauguration of the chapel of a hospital dedicated to Divine Mercy. More than 2,500 faithful present.

On the third Sunday of Easter every diocese in the country offered Masses and prayers. Christian leaders call the faithful to "mitigate the pain of the population" marked by war and the refugees. Not to look for Jesus among the dead, but "among the living" and among those on the margins of society. "