2009-08-27 15:18:56

Catholic priests and Hindu religious released from Tamil refugee camps


(Aug.27, 2009): The Sri Lankan government has released 5 Catholic priests and 177 Hindu religious, with their families, detained in refugee camps in Vavuniya and Cheddikulam. The release that occurred on Wed.morning was possible thanks to Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo, who took up the issue directly with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
K.Thievendirajah, head of Caritas Sri Lanka, who was present at the event, told AsiaNews that the five priests were happy to be freed because they can now meet and serve their people. He said the Hindu religious leaders were also very happy to be freed, as they could now live together with their families. He said the five priests will return to their diocese of origin: Mannar and Jaffna. The five priests are Fr. Francis Jude Gananaraj Croos, Fr. Edward Selvaraja Mariyathas, Fr. Alfred Vijayakamalan, Fr. Anthonipillai Anton Amalraj and Fr. Arulanentham Anton Steephan. He said at the time of release, which occurred near the Air Force camp in Vavuniya, representatives of the Colombo government, the Church and the Hindu community of the island were all present.
The refugee camps were set up at the end of the conflict between the army and Tamil Tigers in May. They are home to about 280 thousand people and only the military have access to the area. Despite the assurances of the government, it is not yet clear when the Tamil refugees will be able to return to their villages of origin in the north.








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