Pope’s emissary visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 February 2009, 17:18 GMT]
Representative of the Holy See from Vatican, Bishop Rt. Rev. Mario Senario, is on a visit to Jaffna to meet the displaced Tamils detained in camps in Jaffna and to learn of their situation, Jaffna Bishop’s House sources said. Biship Senario will also discuss the plight of the Tamils caught in war in Vanni. Jaffna Bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam, and Rt. Rev. Mario Senario will also hold jointly a special mass for the safety of the Tamils in Vanni and for permanent peace for the Tamils in Sri Lanka Sunday 7:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Jaffna, sources added.

The visiting Vatican emissary is expected to meet Saturday the people displaced from war areas and detained in the refugee camps in Koappaay Teachers’ Training College, Kurunakar Special Rehabilitation Camp and the Catholic church Mirusuvil premises, the sources said.

A meeting with the visiting Bishop was held in Jaffna Bishop’s house Friday where he was told about the hunger strike that was observed by the Catholics and others from religious and social organizations in Jaffna, in an effort to draw the attention of the International Community to the sufferings of the Tamils in Vanni. The meeting was led by Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam.

Priests and nuns from Jaffna peninsula participated in the above meeting.

Rt. Rev. Mario Senario will send a report on the situation in Jaffna to the Holy See on his return to Colombo.

Before coming to Jaffna Rt. Rev. Mario Senario had met Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse, his brother Gothabaya Rajapakse, the Defence Minister, and Sarath Fonseka, the Sri Lanka Army Commander.

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