SRI LANKA Christians Collect Relief Items For Displaced In Northern War Zone

(October 4, 2008) Despite the cruel polarization between north and south, victims of Sri Lanka's decades-long bitter civil war still compel sympathy. Such compassion was evident during an ecumenical service on Sept. 24 when Christian "southerners" lighted candles, prayed and offered relief supplies for "northerners." About 400 or so priests, nuns, social activists and others came for the service here at Anglican Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour. Besides praying for ethnic Tamils displaced by the Sinhalese-led government's military offensive against Tamil rebels, they donated money, food, medicine and clothes for the north's war victims. The donations are part of a campaign the Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM) has been running to help displaced Tamils. During the recent ecumenical service, most who placed packages of relief supplies on a big pile for distribution to the Tamil victims were Sinhalese.CSM, a non-governmental organization, is sending the emergency supplies to help an estimated 200,000 Tamils displaced by the fighting in the north. Father Anthony Victor Sosai, a Catholic priest, told the mainly Anglican and Methodist audience at the service about his experiences while ministering to the displaced in the northern war zone. He said that many are hiding in the jungle and paddy fields, and they cried out to him for help, especially food and emergency supplies.