by Melani Manel Perera

In its Easter message, the bishops' conference denounces at the same time the serious repercussions of the twenty-year civil conflict on the population, disparity among the social classes, the increasing cost of living, and insecurity.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - "True and lasting peace" can be attained only through negotiations among the parties in conflict, as difficult as this may be.  This is the conviction of the bishops of Sri Lanka, who in their message for Easter of 2008 denounce once again the incalculable damage caused to the population and to the country in over 20 years of civil war.  The message, released last March 16, is signed by the president of the bishops' conference (CBCSL), Bishop Vianney Fernando, and by secretary general Bishop Norbert M. Andradi.

"Today, human life appears to be so devalued as in no other context in Sri Lankan history", the text reads, in Sinhalese and Tamil. "People go about their day to day tasks with so much fear and anxiety. There does not seem to be an end to the violence that is ravaging the country". The problem does not concern only security, but also affects the social and economic sphere: "The ever increasing cost of living adds to the already exiting burdens of the ordinary person. The gap between those who have, and those who do not, is widening everyday. Life has become almost unbearable to the person who earns his living on a daily basis". And as is natural, the situation is greatly affecting above all the less prosperous classes and their children.

In spite of the difficulties, the bishops' conference invites the faithful to "cultivate hope, to keep alive the principles of the Gospel and Christian values, and first of all that of respect for human life".

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