Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Brussels (Agenzia Fides) – The religious leaders of Sri Lanka are working for reconciliation and development in the country, taking a public stance and witnessing to unity in the name of the common good of the country. As a note sent to Agenzia Fides says, the leaders of the various communities have organized a European tour to launch a peace appeal for Sri Lanka to the entire world, to plead the cause of the economic accords between the European Union and Sri Lanka.
The delegation – composed of Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian leaders and led by Buddhist leader Venerable Bellanwila Wimalaratna Nayaka Thero – also includes Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo. Yesterday, the religious leaders met with the Holy Father Benedict XVI and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, presenting them with the peace appeal and the delicate situation of refugees in Sri Lanka. The European institutions have also been advised of the situation, and called to play an active role in the peace process and in the resolution of the humanitarian crisis of Tamil refugees on the island.
Another important issue on the agenda is that of a possible cancellation of special accords from 2004, between the European Union and Sri Lanka, following the tsunami.
The Union had decided to support the country economically through the “Generalized System of Preferences Plus” (GSP Plus), which called for an easier access for the European market to the textile industry of Sri Lanka, the main livelihood of the national economy.
Today, the EU threatens to revoke the accords for a lack of clarifications from Colombo on human rights violations carried out by the Sri Lankan Army during the war. The government in Colombo has claimed “national sovereignty,” ignoring the requests made by the EU.
The religious leaders, sharing the position already mentioned by Archbishop Ranjith, have asked the European Union to “continue the GSP Plus and all other possibilities of aid for Sri Lanka,” in that this is “the best way the European Union can help further the rapid settling of the refugees,” the over 200,000 Tamil refugees still living in refugee camps.
According to the religious leaders, the GSP Plus accords are instruments that Europe can use to further the delicate process of national reconciliation, which includes finding places for the Tamil refugees and helping them reintegrate into society.
The religious leaders intend to offer with their tour a testimony of interreligious harmony and unity of interests and the good of the nation, hoping that this message will be well received by the politicians of Sri Lanka and the entire population. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/11/2009)
