Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long
as ever you can.
John Wesley
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ACTION CARD FEBRUARY 2010
In December 2009, the European Commission announced a suspension of preferential trade status with Sri Lanka as a consequence of the treatment of the Tamil population in the final stages of the military campaign against the Tamil Tiger rebels (LTTE). The government of Sri Lanka have attracted widespread criticism for the shelling of civilian areas leading to the deaths of thousands of civilians. In addition an estimated 300,000 people were relocated to internment camps which remained closed to outside agencies and journalists until December 2009. The government has promised to return people to their homes by the end of January 2010.
On 26 January Sri Lanka will hold a Presidential election. The two leading contenders are President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his challenger, the former army chief, Sarath Fonseka. Both had a prominent leadership role in the military campaign against the LTTE. The challenge for any new government must be to satisfy the legitimate demands of Tamils who make up 18% of the population and to begin to restore peace, trust and confidence.
Action
Pray for Christians in Sri Lanka as churches are involved in the delivery of aid and initiatives to promote peace and interfaith collaboration.
Write to the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP, to ask for Britain to use its influence to ensure that Government of Sri Lanka relocate all those in internment camps and to ask the President to outline concrete actions that his government will take to encourage meaningful political devolution and economic development in order to ensure a secure future for all.
As the situation is changing please check this page for updated information and actions, or contact hucklesbys@methodistchurch.org.uk.
Write to: -
Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP
Secretary of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Methodism and Sri Lanka
British Methodism has strong links with the church in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has been affected by a civil war between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for several years. This conflict appears to have ended with the defeat and destruction of LTTE.
During the Methodist Conference meeting in the summer of 2006, a resolution was adopted calling on the British Government to put pressure on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to bring to a halt all types of killings and murders and to observe the terms of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.
The Conference also asked that the Methodist Church in Britain shows its solidarity with the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka, the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka as they work for peace.
You can listen to the debate of the 2006 Conference through Methodist Web Radio:
Methodist Conference 2006 - Notices of Motion 1 and 124
Streaming Audio: Listen
Save file to your computer: Right click on the following link and choose 'save target as'. Save file to computer
15 minutes / 3.5MB
In 2009, the Methodist Conference adopted Notice of Motion 205, which said:
Conference recognises and gives thanks for the work our Brothers and Sisters in the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka (MCSL) who have provided and continue to provide relief and comfort to those affected by the conflict in Sri Lanka. The unfortunate conflict has adversely affected the life and fabric of the entire nation. Civilians from all communities have been affected by this war and have experienced much suffering. The Methodist Church, Sri Lanka consisting of both Sinhala and Tamil communities has continuously responded to the emerging challenges due to the ethnic conflict in the past three decades and has done whatever is possible, within her means.
Conference notes
• the contribution MCSL has and is making to multi faith efforts for reconciliation.
• with grave concern that some 300,000 internally displaced people (IDP) are held in camps encircled with barbed/razor wire.
And asks that the Sri Lankan government
• permits individuals and organisations to have more access to these camps so that the needs of the IDPs can be met effectively;
• expeditiously creates conditions that will enable IDPs to return to their homes and re-build their lives in a secure and peaceful environment.
The Conference assures the Sri Lankan people of our continuing concern and its prayerful and material support.
Mission Partners
Four British Methodists are serving as Mission Partners in Sri Lanka. Read more about them, their work, and their life in Sri Lanka.
Methodist Church Press Releases on Sri Lanka
22 May 2009 - Appeal for Sri Lankan Churches struggling with refugee crisis
17 February 2009 - Methodists in war-torn Sri Lanka appeal for help
21 January 2005 – Methodist ministers off to Sri Lanka to aid tsunami work
Links
