Bishop seeks Co-Chairs' help for peace talks

The Catholic Bishop of Jaffna the Rt. Rev Dr. Thomas Savuntharanayagam made a fervent appeal on behalf of the Jaffna civil society to the US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Bowcher for the greater involvement of the International Community in resuming the stalled peace process in Sri Lanka.

The US Assistant Secretary of State attended a meeting at the Jaffna Public Library auditorium on Wednesday attended by the clergy, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna Prof Kumar Vadivel, Government Agent of Jaffna K. Ganesh academics and the members of the business community.

Richard Bowcher was the first senior most American official to visit the Jaffna Public Library since it was rebuilt in 2002 after it was set on fire in 1981.

Bishop Savuntharanayagam addressing a packed audience at the library auditorium said that the international community must perform its part in bringing the parties in the conflict back to the negotiating table. The people of the North and East and the country at large was facing much hardship due to the ongoing hostilities in the country.

"This situation cannot be allowed to continue with death and destruction. The international community should play an effective role in finding a political solution as early as possible for the Lankan crisis.

Devolution of powers based on a Federal system could be the only suitable solution to the ethnic turmoil in the country, Bishop Savuntharanayagam said. Prof. Vadivel in his address described the current situation that prevails in Jaffna due to the collapse of the peace process. He also urged the US Government and other Co-Chair countries involved in the Lankan peace process to take effective measures to resume the stalled peace talks.

While explaining the killings, abductions and the economic strains that remain in the peninsula, the Vice Chancellor pointed out the difficulties he faced in the administration of the Jaffna University.