ASIA/SRI LANKA - “The Church will do her part for a future of peace and unity,” Bishops' Conference Secretary tells Agenzia Fides

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - “There is still a great deal left to do in building a future of reconciliation, peace, and respect for the dignity and rights of all Sri Lankans. The Church will do her part for a future of peace and unity in the country.” This is what Bishop Norbert Andradi, OMI of Anuradhapura, Secretary of the Sri Lankan Bishops' Conference, told Fides following the appeal made by the Pope and the speech delivered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in announcing the end of the civil war.
In a dialogue with Fides, Bishop Andradi commented on the situation of the country, observing that in this new phase that opens for the nation, there will have to be a unification of the positive forces in society, of the institutions and all religious communities in “contributing to the common good and building a new future of peace and prosperity for Sri Lanka.”
The Bishop told Fides: “We thank the Holy Father Benedict XVI for the words he addressed to our country. We feel encouraged in our mission. We will continue on in our commitment to the Catholic faithful and all citizens in the North and South of the country, to put aside divisions, reconcile, and build a new future of peace and harmony for Sri Lanka. There is certainly a lot of work left to be done in healing old wounds and everyone should do their part. The Church, which has both Sinhalese and Tamil members, will offer an example, a testimony of unity.”
As to the dramatic situation of the Tamil refugees, victims of months of conflict, Bishop Andradi highlighted “the great work of Caritas, which has gathered human and economic resources for the aid effort,” and assured that they will continue to work on “rehabilitation and reconstruction of a society without violence, especially for the new generations to come.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/5/2009)