Bishop Swampillai's Millennium Message

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 January 2000, 01:24 GMT]
The Bishop of the Batticaloa-Trincomalee diocese Rt.Rev Dr. Joseph Kingsley Swampillai said in his millennium message today, " The fundamental rights of people should be respected in this country and in the world. The people and the government should together endeavour to safeguard human rights. Everyone in the country should work towards peace in the new millennium. That the basis for a solution to the ethnic problem should be found by respecting human rights is my new year wish."

"The war should be brought to an end. The people who fled their homes should return. Poverty and starvation should be eradicated from among our people. All oppressions of the people must be removed in the name of justice and human rights.

"The main reason for the long war in this country is the decline of religious values among the people. For Sri Lanka to become a peaceful country once more, its people should seek God's blessing. The new millennium should help them abide by religious values.

"Our religious beliefs should not turn us into bigots; but should help us realise that we are God's children and that this country is his gift to us.

"I pray for God's blessing to all and wish everyone a happy new year."