Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Fides Service) - “War robs families, all families, Sinhalese and Tamil, of wellbeing, prosperity, hope: it is senseless and must be stopped”, says Sri Lanka born Fr. Cyriac Niìjayarkulam a member of the Claretian missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary CMF, an order founded in 1849 in Spain by St Anthony Maria Claret; charisma, parochial, education and retreat work. “In our humble service we try to educate young people to peace, promoting reconciliation among young Tamils and Sinhalese, encouraging them to discover common interests, values, and aspirations and to build friendships. I sincerely hope for a future of peace and respect for the rights of all the people regardless of ethnic origin and religious beliefs. Peace is possible in Sri Lanka, and the path is dialogue”.
Sri Lanka would appear to be on the brink of a return to civil war. After presidential elections last Autumn relations have not improved between the government and Tamil separatists and negotiations are still at a stalemate. The cease fire agreement has been often ignored with attacks on both sides. Since November 2005 at least 150 military and civilians have been killed and reciprocal trust between the two sides seems to weaken with every passing day. Among the people there is growing fear and tension and fear of a return to civil war. However the Norwegian peace mediator Erik Solheim has arrived back in Sri Lanka to try to get the two sides back to the negotiation table per.
Fr. Cyriac who has worked among Sinhalese and Tamils expresses the fears of Christians in Sri Lanka. He tells of his experience during the civil war: “The first Claretian house was opened in central Sri Lanka in 1978 but when civil war started in 1984 we had to close our mission. In 1992 a community of German Claretians purchased a house in Jaffna, in the Tamil area, but again life and ministry was difficult because of the war. Our students are Sinhalese and Tamil and both people say they want reconciliation and peace. We must encourage them and promote dialogue at all levels”.
Fr. Cyriac speaks of the religious situation in Sri Lanka: “There are two large majority groups, Buddhism (professed by the Sinhalese) and Hinduism (professed by the Tamil). Christians, a minority, are appreciated and respected. However there is concern with regard to an Anti-Conversion Bill presented recently to parliament by fundamentalist Buddhists. The bill would restrict freedom of conscience guaranteed by the Constitution. The Catholic Church defends energetically everyone’s right to freedom of conscience. The Bill tends to discriminate against religious minorities”.
The priest tells about the Claretian presence in Sri Lanka: “Today we have 30 Claretians in Sri Lanka working in Tamil and Sinhalese areas. We have a house of formation and a Novitiate with 18 students who are studying theology. We work mainly in an around Kandy in youth pastoral, parish work, social centres and we also have a small printing press”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/1/2006 righe 33 parole 336)
