Meeting with President significant - Jaffna Bishop

Ananth Palakidnar

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured the Bishop of Jaffna Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundranayagam and Mannar Bishop Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph that he would make every effort to ensure the safety of the people of the North and East and would not allow another confrontation to errupt in the area.

The Catholic Bishops of Jaffna and Mannar met President Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Tuesday and detailed him on the current disturbing conditions in the Jaffna Peninsula and Mannar.

Jaffna Bishop Thomas Saundranayagam commenting on the meeting he had with President Rajapaksa along with Bishop Rayappu Joseph said that the meeting was very significant at this juncture.

"As the Bishops of Jaffna and Mannar we outlined the President on the fears and the difficulties faced by the people in Jaffna and Mannar.

"The situation in the North is not satisfactory. The innocent civilians are worried whether there would be a break up of another confrontation. The North and East and the country at large cannot face another all out war. Every citizen of this country wants peace. Therefore, the measures must be taken to create peace in the country.

We have explained the recent incidents, which had taken place in Jaffna and Mannar and insisted that the utmost priority should be given to the security of the innocent civilians," Bishop Thomas Saundranayagam said.

Commenting on the President's response Bishop Saundranayagam continued that the President assured them that he would take every step to ensure the security of the people of the North and East and would not allow for another war. The President also said that like the citizens in the other parts of the country, the citizens of North and East also his own citizens and he would not let them down.