Melani Manel Perera

In 2007 the International Labour Organisation set out a convention to safeguard the work of fishermen, but the Colombo government refuses to ratify it.

For Mgr Oswald Gomis the fighting between the army and Tamil Tigers is reducing the country as it was at the “end of World War Two.” The Church is committed to helping refugees and reconciliation.

The victory of the United People's Freedom Alliance seems like indirect approval of the war against the Tigers. But the country is witnessing a competition of solidarity to assist the refugees. The Christian Churches are the most active. Muslims send five cooks to refugee centers in Vanni.

Government orders military to stop using heavy weapons and airstrikes, but army spokesman says halt does not mean ceasefire. United Nations welcomes the government’s decision, but demands a humanitarian truce. India claims it played key role in Sri Lanka’s decision, but many in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu accuse the central and local leaders of using the war for electoral purposes.

The humanitarian crisis in the war zones is becoming increasingly serious. The Tamil Tigers say about 165,000 civilians risk dying of hunger; accusations against the government, which is "deliberately" blocking aid. Colombo clarifies that care for refugees is a "priority," and it is preparing a postwar plan.

Fr. Vasanthaseelan was hit by a shell in the church of Valaignarmadam. His leg has been amputated. Fr. Pathinathan is now at Mulli-vaaykkaal Hospital. The government is appealing to the international community for aid for the refugees. The foreign minister of Colombo: "We are about to confront an emergency humanitarian situation."

Sri Lanka’s army says it knows where LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, is in hiding. Sri Lankans wonder about Tiger leader’s future with most hoping he gets killed. Political analyst Sarath Fernando says rebels must surrender but Tamil must continue the struggle for their rights.

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.