In the villages of Wewala, Weligampitiya and Kalaeliya near Jael, the nuns gave birth to a free afternoon school for poor and sick children. On 22 December they celebrated Christmas with gift to all 52 of them school uniforms and books.
A group of 130 volunteers from the south of the island visited the village of Adampan, with parcels of gifts containing clothes, bedding, stationery and other essential items for a total of 3 million rupees.
The National Fisheries Solidarity association organised a three-day meeting in mid-December with young people from northern and southern Sri Lanka, because whilst the war might be over, the country’s contradictions are not. For one participant, there are still too many mental and physical barriers that young people must remove to build true freedom.”
The districts most affected are those of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara. Over 50 thousand families affected. Also flooded several temporary refugee transit centres and fields devoted to the cultivation of rice. Caritas Sedec already working to provide relief to victims.
An ecumenical meeting is held in Colombo organised by the Christian Solidarity Movement. Sinhalese and Tamil pray for refugees and together remember those who have died among the military, rebels and civilians. For the promoters of the initiative, the Advent of Christmas reminds us that Jesus is the only hope for peace and reconciliation in the country.
After decades of separation caused by war, teenagers from the two groups meet to share hopes in a programme for mutual acceptance and sharing.
On the Day for the Defence of Human Rights 500 members of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement and other associations in the fisheries sector have demonstrated against illegal fishing and the inaction of government and police. For them Colombo’s policies encourages the logic of profit and the development of tourism at the expense of small fishermen.
The church of Our Lady Rosa Mystica in Crooswatta is attacked. A mob of about a thousand people stormed the building, armed with sticks, swords and stones; they destroyed statues, altar and chairs, set cars on fire and knocked people about. The church is built near a Buddhist monastery that has been against it for years despite a Supreme Court ruling authorising its construction.
Refugees lived primarily in camps in Puttalam district. In 1990, Tamil Tigers expelled them en mass from the northern part of the island. A repatriation ceremony will take place on 26 December in the presence of President Rajapaksa.
Promoted by Msgr. Malcolm Ranjith to support the work of Caritas - Sedec in the Diocese of Mannar. The donations are intended to build a reception centre for children of Adampan in Manthai West division, and to help homeless refugees. Also for scholarships for orphans, children of soldiers disabled by war.
Sri Lanka’s government announced total freedom of movement for IDPs in refugee camps as of 1 December. A report by the South Asia Democrats group presents a different picture. Refugees say that permits are granted for only seven days, whilst the military say they have no time limits. Confusion reigns in the camp as applications to leave require long waits.
The Eelam People Democratic Party wants guarantees for power devolution and a political solution to the Tamil question.
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