ASIA/SRI LANKA - Cardinal Ranjith: “Reconciliation is closer”

Wednesday, 2 December 2015 peace   reconciliation  

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “Reconciliation in Sri Lanka is closer. We are confident, the social and political atmosphere bodes well. The sides are determined to turn a new page and work together for peace and prosperity ”: Fides was told this by Sri Lankan Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, presently taking part in the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
Heeding recommendations from the United Nations, the government of the new president Maithripala Sirisena, elected at the beginning of 2015, has officially decided to set up a special court to examine war crimes committed against the civilian population in the final stage of the 26 year long conflict between the army and Tamil rebels.
The Special Court is expected to start work before the end of this year or in early January, said Chandrika Kumaratunga, former president of Sri Lanka, now head of the executive’s special “Reconciliation Unit ”.
“The criterion is reconciliation in truth and in justice ” Cardinal Ranjith told Fides, adding that the country’s religious leaders will be actively involved in the process of national reconciliation: “A special ‘Council of Clemency’ Commission comprising the leaders of the Island’s main religions has been established. The Commission will examine persons found guilty by the Special Court who admit their responsibility and present a request for pardon. The religious leaders will receive these requests and establish some form of compensation, involving social service or some symbolic act of charity or solidarity in favour of the victims ”.
From the outset president Maithripala Sirisena said clearly that he expects concrete support on the part of the nation’s religious leaders towards building a period of peace, fraternity and progress. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 2/12/2015)


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