Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Fides Service) - In a message issued on the eve of National Independence Day in Sri Lanka where a situation of uncertainty and tension persists, the Catholic Archbishop of Colombo, Mgr Oswald Gomis, said: “A joint consolidated effort is imperative. As a Catholic community we have always advocated a negotiated political settlement that would help every community in this country to live in peace and dignity”.
The Archbishop called on the people to be united, recalling the Island’s past: “We celebrate the anniversary of our national Independence (4 February ) this year amidst a certain degree of uncertainty and tension. What basically began as a language issue has now blown up to reach high proportions to the extent of demanding territorial division and separation. This has brought us to a prolonged war that has now lasted over two decades. However no problem is insurmountable. As Sri Lankans we have faced many a trial in our long and chequered history of over 3,000 years. Foreign influences political, cultural and economic have had their impact on us both for the better and for the worse. But we have been able to survive in all this in spite of our limitations”. The Archbishop continued : “The supreme lesson inscribed in all these events of history is that whenever we stood united we achieved success but at every moment we let ourselves get divided we were defeated”.
He expressed confident hope: “My firm hope is that we would be alt to manifest that same unity and cooperate action in finding a solution to the present crisis. It would be futile to think that one political party or political group would have the strength to find an effective solution. A joint consolidated effort is imperative...We have come almost to a point of no return unless our political elders think broadly and act nobly. We are happy to note the President is moving in this direction. It is our fervent hope that all those involved in political leadership would support this initiative considering this as a national imperative not a matter of private political or personal gain”.
“As a Catholic community we have always advocated a negotiated political settlement that would help every community in this country to live in peace and dignity”, concluded the Archbishop who on 4 February will preside Vespers at the national Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Sri Lanka at Tewatte.
Recently in statement entitled ‘an Ecumenical Intervention for Peace’ Church leaders in Sri Lanka, made a strong plea to put an end to the “escalation of brutal and sense violence that has instilled fear once again in the people of Sri Lanka”. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka and other Christian leaders lamented that “no one seems willing to take responsibility for stopping this trend”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 31/1/2005 righe 27 parole 279)
