Render whatever assistance - All Ceylon Hindu Congress

"The New Year dawns at a critical time when our brothers and sisters in the North and East are placed in a situation worse than even of the refugees.

"They are in an unfortunate plight of living without sufficient clothing, without enough food to eat, without medical facilities, the young children being deprived of education and those people have been denied the basic facilities and deprived of fundamental rights. These are the unfortunate conditions of their living.

"Not only Hindus, even people of other religions are praying to the Almighty for the restoration of peace in this country.

"We condemn all acts of violence committed by any party or group.

"The present situation must change without delay. For that we need the grace of His Almighty.

"Therefore, we request all Hindus to engage in prayers on the New Year day for immediate salvation for the people who have been suffering for years.

"We have sent relief assistance to Jaffna and Batticaloa. We have now received an urgent request from Batticaloa for clothes for displaced people, and we are arranging to collect them and despatch them to Batticaloa.

We appeal to all the people in Colombo to donate sarees, sarongs and garments for children by delivering them to the Headquarters of the All Ceylon Hindu Congress at No. 91/5, Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2, or at Saraswathie Hall, No. 75, Lorensz Road, Colombo 4 or Vivekananda Hall, Kotahena so that the goods can be sent to Batticaloa.

"Let each Hindu think of his brothers and sisters who are in desperate need for clothes and help them at least on the eve of the New Year. Instead of celebrating the New Year we have no doubt all our brothers and sisters will give whatever assistance we can extend to them at this critical time."