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Christian call is to be peace-makers - Methodist Church

The annual Methodist Conference of 2002, held in the town of Kalmunai in the Eastern province as a sign of the Church's commitment to the Peace Process, welcomes the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, and the recent announcement pertaining to the commencement of direct talks in Thailand during this month.

The Conference calls upon both parties to the agreement to honour all obligations and commitments in order to strengthen the process, while it appreciates the many acts of goodwill facilitated and the resolve expressed by both parties to strengthen the peace process. It welcomes the gesture by the Government of Sri Lanka to lift the ban on the LTTE, an act of courage and resolve and urge the LTTE to adequately reciprocate the same. We call upon all political parties to avoid confrontational politics and work together keeping the welfare of the Nation uppermost in mind and arrive at a consensus in order to strengthen the ongoing peace building efforts.

We are also thankful to the Government of Norway for their efforts in creating a conducive climate to foster peace, reconciliation and harmony among the People of the Island. This Conference reiterates its commitment to a negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict and calls upon all its members to be engaged in unceasing prayer and concrete action to promote understanding and harmony among the people.

As the mandate of the Christian call is to be peace-makers, it calls for a recommitment of all its members to work for justice and the legitimate rights of all communities in the island and thus ensure peace in the Island, states the President of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka. Rev. A Noel P. Fernando.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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