by Melani Manel Perera

The message of the Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka (Cbcsl) encourages people to commit to bringing the country back"to normal," almost three years after the Civil War. Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, to encounter Jesus among the poorest, without distinction of caste, creed or ethnicity.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - "This Christmas presents us with major challenges. It reminds us that life is always a unique gift of God, the deep respect we have towards each other, beyond all differences of caste, creed or ethnicity, and our great need for unity and reconciliation", said Card. Malcolm Ranjith, and Msgr. Norbert M. Andrade, president and secretary general of the Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka (Cbcsl), in a message of Christmas greetings to the people, stressing the need to establish a common commitment to "real and lasting" peace and to restore "normalcy "in the life of the country's 200 thousand IDPs (Internally Displaced People, IDPs), almost three years after the end of the Civil War.

"On the feast of the Prince of peace - says the Cbcsl message - we must strive to overcome the prejudices that separate us from each other, because at this time reconciliation is our greatest need. Jesus reminds us that we are all brothers and sisters, sons of God, wherever and whoever we are. We must become instruments of the Lord and builders of peace. "

Card. Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, then recalled the thousands of IDPs in the country: "Christmas pushes us to meet the Lord among the needy and the poorest in society, how many families are still waiting to return to their homes. Just as the shepherds of Bethlehem, we accept the challenge of God and we go to meet Christ, who lies in the many 'cribs' of our lives. "

• Sri
• Lanka
• civil
• war
• bishops
• Christmas
• message
• peace
• reconciliation