Melani Manel Perera

The bishop of Mannar has called off the celebrations at the shrine of Our Lady of Madhu. The decision was made necessary by the failed agreement between the government and the Tamil Tigers on the creation of a "conflict free zone" around the sacred site.

At the summit in Colombo, heads of state and government leaders of member countries have promised to work together to lower food prices, combat hunger, and assist agriculture. But many observe that concrete actions are still lacking.

Bishop Rayappu asks for "adequate security guarantees" to celebrate the feast of the Assumption. If these are in place, the statue of the Virgin will return to the shrine. Thousands of pilgrims expected.

A diocesan document denounces the rise in theft and civilian violence, limits on freedom of movement, abuses and expropriations in preparation for the SAARC summit. The life of the population is becoming increasingly difficult in the northern peninsula.

The summit of South Asian countries has begun under the banner of a "partnership among peoples". Heads of state and government leaders are expected at the end of the week, and must find "shared solutions" to foster economic growth. Heavy security measures because of fear of attacks.

The civil war that pits government forces against Tamil Tigers has killed 70,000 people in 25 years. The country’s Christians organise a prayer vigil to honour the memory of those who died and to call for peace and prosperity for Sri Lanka as a whole.

Fighting and bombings in the area have required the statue of the Virgin Mary to be moved to the bishop's residence. The intensification of the conflict is forcing tens of thousands of refugees to live under the trees and in the jungle.

Tamil Tigers says they are willing to avoid violent incidents during South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation summit. The event is a great opportunity to re-start Sri Lanka’s economy, but many slam the authorities for forced evictions and shutting down businesses on “security” grounds.

For the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit Colombo takes stringent security measures to prevent violence. City and airport are under tight controls; railways stations are closed; and shanty towns near the city centre are evacuated.

Celebrations for the Pauline Year in the country coincide with the beginning of the preparatory period for the third centenary of the death of the missionary beatified by John Paul II. The bishops call the faithful to follow these two "proclaimers of the word of God", and to imitate their "missionary spirit".

A note from the diocesan commission for justice and peace lists the area's most urgent problems. For almost 25 years, the northern peninsula has been the theatre of a bloody war between the army and the Tamil Tigers, claiming victims above all from the civilian population.

The project is part of a wider plan undertaken by the government to jumpstart the country’s economy. It risks driving small operators out of business in favour of large-scale commercial enterprises.