Melani Manel Perera

The archbishop of Colombo announces the Year of the Eucharist in the diocese to begin next August.

Some 12,000 families began leaving refugee camps yesterday on their way to Mullativu and Kilinochchi districts, former Tamil Tiger strongholds. About 160,000 people remain in refugee camps. The Indian government calls for faster repatriation.

The secretary general of the World Forum of Fisher People attended FAO meeting on the environment, development and food security. In order to fight hunger and preserve the environment multinationals must be held at bay in favour of environmentally-friendly farming.

At the annual session of the Diocese of Colombo of the Anglican Church, Rev Duleep de Chickera calls for justice and freedom for Tamil refugees. A year will be devoted to ‘National Reconciliation and Healing’ in 2009-2010. The country’s various religious communities play a fundamental role for the country. Inter-Christian collaboration is particularly important.

In Sri Lanka, believers of different religions celebrate the festivity that marks the victory of light over darkness. Special prayers are said for displaced people in refugee camps, that they may live the festivity in complete freedom. President Rajapaksa stresses “the increased harmony and understanding among all our people.”

The elephants on the island are now 8 thousand 500. In some areas their raids destroy homes and crops and even claim victims among the population. The example of Diyakepilla village where the inhabitants are forced to spend the night in trees to defend themselves and monitor the fields.

The government in Colombo to ensure the resettlement of a quarter of the refugees to a parliamentary delegation from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Tamil-language newspapers say that the group of politicians criticized the actions of the government. State media report the delegation was satisfied with the refugee situation.

For months, he has avoided meeting with the families of detainees. When we met them he made fun of the women, making it clear he does not want to be involved and refuses to talk with national leaders of fishermen's organizations.

A special ceremony is held in Colombo’s Anglican cathedral. Representatives of various Christian denominations and top army officers pray together for peace and harmony in the country.

British minister for international development visits refugee camps in northern Sri Lanka. He finds progress in resettling refugees “disappointing”, urges Sri Lankan government to speed up process before monsoon season makes matters worse.

Namalwatte residents left their homes in 1985 because of advancing Tamil Tiger forces. With the war over, they went home only to find it occupied by somebody else. So far, the government has done nothing to settle disputes with the new inhabitants. Now they accuse local administrators of taking bribes from Muslims and the central government of failing to keep its promise of aid and money.

Nuns and religious, the promoters of the 'Ministry of Presence’ in refugee camps, write to Rajapaksa. They recognize the commitment of the Government for the IDP’s, but remark on "the long wait to return to their homes and loved ones is the heavy price paid by these tormented people”.