Sri Lanka - Tamil, Sinhalese youths strengthen ties
(May 15, 2010) A group of young Tamil Catholics have travelled to the south of the
country in a bid to build better relations with Christian Sinhalese following three
decades of civil war. Some 60 Tamil Catholic technical college students from Aripp
in Mannar travelled 200 kilometres to Maggona in Colombo archdiocese on the four day
trip to meet Sinhalese communities and youth. The May 9-12 trip for 20 girls and
40 boys was organized by Oblate priests from the Centre for Society and Religion.
The youths said the trip was a chance to build harmony and rebuild a new community
in Sri Lanka, especially among Christians who share a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural
background. Tamils make up 12.5 per cent of the country’s population. “The Sinhalese
community welcomed us warmly, listened to our problems and treated us like family
members. It was a great opportunity for the young people to discuss problems such
as ethnic discrimination,” said Father Marisal Gabriel Arulpragasan who accompanied
the Tamils. He urged Church and civil organizations to promote more of these programs
for young Sinhalese and Tamils. Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne recently said Sri
Lanka plans to set up a reconciliation commission to foster ethnic unity.