Melani Manel Perera

Military sources speak of 100,000 people. For the Red Cross the situation is close to a disaster. Father Sebamalai, parish priest in Vavuniya, says that ten schools in the town have been turned into relief centres for refugees, who only have the clothes on their back. Residents are organising to help the displaced, but only the military can go in and out of relief centres.

For friends and fellow clergymen Father Killi, a Claretian, is an example of Sinhalese-Tamil reconciliation. “Until the end he deeply believed that an actual solution could be found only through an ongoing dialogue” between the two groups, Father Iddamalgoda said.

The initiative is organized by the Christian Solidarity Movement, which intends to repeat the trip each week. The intention is to show a concrete sign of solidarity to war victims, and to knock down the wall of hostility between Sinhalese and Tamils, built over 25 years of conflict. AsiaNews has interviewed Fr. Sarath Iddamalgod, one of the project organizers.

War starts up against after a two-day ceasefire for Sinhalese and Tamil New Year. Sri Lankan military turns down rebel demand for ceasefire extension, alleging break would give the Tamil Tigers an opportunity to rearm. United Nations calls for an end to hostilities to avoid “a bloodbath on the beaches,” where fighting is raging.

Christian leaders are calling for an end to the conflict and suffering for the civil Tamil population. Today the rebel militias have asked for a lasting ceasefire, and the resumption of peace talks. The government says that any negotiations depend on the rebels laying down their weapons.

The army of Colombo says there have been "serious disturbances . . . with loud explosions and machine gun fire" in the area of Ampalawanpokkanai.The population is believed to have risen up against the rebels after the latest appeal from the army, which asked the LTTE to allow the civilians to leave the no-fire zone. According to the Defense Ministry, the leaders of the Tigers have also taken shelter in the area.

Since 1849, Sri Lankan religious and devotees have relived the Passion of Christ by walking the stations of Kapaala Kanda, which in Sinhalese means Mount Calvary. For the celebrations of Good Friday, thousands of people are expected from all over the southern part of the island.

Catholic bank employees turn to the archbishop of Colombo asking him to get the authorities to intervene. Several banks respect the statutory holiday, but some say they will not close even for Sinhalese and Tamil New Year.

Lasantha Wickrematunge was killed in January, and those responsible for his death remain unidentified. The UN body is honoring his memory as a "journalist who opposed war." The presentation of the prize will take place on May 3, in Doha.

For generations, they have earned their living by casting their nets along the coast; now only large ships and tourist boats will be allowed. The government had promised compensation, but only a small part of this has been paid.

Hardest hit are young worker and women, who represent 90 per cent of the workforce. The government has no plan to rescue factories or help laid off workers. More closures and layoffs are expected in the so-called Free Trade Zone after 14 April, New Year in the Sinhalese and Tamil calendar.

Santha Fernando is the secretary of the Commission for Justice and Peace. He was arrested at the international airport of Colombo by the anti-terrorism investigative division. He was supposed to participate in a seminar on the situation in the north, ripped apart by the war between the army and the Tamil Tigers.