Melani Manel Perera

The population is caught in a crossfire between the two belligerents, the army and Tamil Tiger rebels. The prelate calls for the establishment of “humanitarian corridors” to deliver aid; he also wants to see an “inter-religious group” set up to confront the emergency situation.

The Catholic commission emphasizes the impossibility of celebrating the traditional feast of the Assumption while the area is the theater of violence and massacres. Thousands of people have been forced to abandon their homes to flee from the war between the army and the Tamil Tigers.

March participants, 25 nuns and men religious, want to pass on a message of “peace and harmony” to the nation so that “love for life” may overcome the abhorrent logic of war.

Tomorrow voters in Sabaragamuwa and North Central provinces will cast their ballots. The Elections Commission reports more than 150 attacks against candidates and parties in the last few weeks. The Congress of Religions calls for “free and fair” elections.

More than 75,000 people have been made refugees since June, while fighting intensifies between the army and the Tamil Tigers. The army is blocking humanitarian aid, claiming that it is going to the rebels. Bishop of Mannar: the safety of the population must be guaranteed, and their food needs must be met.

There will be no solemn celebrations on August 15, but from August 12-17 groups of 200 pilgrims will be able to visit the shrine. The army has swept an area around the church for mines, but the zone is still dangerous.

In Myanmar, thousands of soldiers in the streets and in front of the Buddhist monasteries, out of fear of a population weakened by decades of repression and hunger. Protests in Bangkok and Manila. The solidarity of Colombo.

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.