Priests Bring Easter to Sri Lanka's War Zone

(12 Apr 09 - RV) Some good news this Easter Sunday, Sri Lanka's president ordered a two-day suspension of offensives against Tamil Tiger rebels in the North of the Island to enable tens of thousands of trapped civilians to leave the war zone.


President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed the armed forces to restrict operations during the April 13-14 Sri Lankan New Year to a defensive nature and renewed his call to the
rebel group to «acknowledge its military defeat and lay down its weapons and surrender».


Bishop Thomas Savundranayagam of Jaffna, where the war has claimed a heavy civilian toll, says his priests are ensuring what Easter joy they can to the afflicted population: