Sri Lanka: Bishop on hunger strike

The Bishop of Jaffna and clergy from the Jaffna peninsula, are holding a hunger strike to draw attention to the thousands of men, women and children trapped in the midst of heavy shelling and gunfire in north eastern Sri Lanka

A fierce battle, between the security forces of the Government of Sri Lanka and The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has left an estimated 250,000 people trapped in a pocket of land in the Vanni, a third of the size of London.

Aid agencies report that fierce fighting is making it impossible to deliver vital aid to people caught in the cross fire.

Priests and sisters from CAFOD’s partner, Caritas Sri Lanka are standing alongside the thousands of people who have been forced to flee their homes.

“My priests and sisters have told me that they will not abandon the people but move with them wherever they are going”, said Bishop Thomas of Jaffna.

“Having lived with them always they will not leave them at this time of crisis.”

Calling for a ceasefire

The Bishop is calling on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to increase the area where the people are sheltering and cease fighting so that civilians can be moved to safety.

“I am a Christian and God has taught us that not through violence, but through love we can bring about peace,” said Bishop Thomas.

“I don’t advocate violence and killings. I have to work for the people to fight this. My faith helps me to be bold and speak out the truth for the oppressed in spite of risk”.

Through Caritas Sri Lanka, we will continue to provide food, shelter and trauma counselling to thousands of people who have been forced to flee their homes because of ongoing violence in the region.

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