Colombo, Sri Lanka: The escalation of violence takes the toll of innocent lives in the country and makes the ceasefire Agreement meaningless. The attacks on the refugees in Vettrinayaki Church in Pessalai and on the people in the coastline resulted in deaths and injuries.

It is said that this was followed by the Navy-LTTE clashes in the seas off Mannar on Saturday Morning.

The attack on innocent civilian refugees in a religious place is abominable. It is in fear of retaliatory violence that the people abandon their homes and take refuge in temples, church or mosques. When the sanctity of sacred places is violated and violence is carried there, where lies the last resort for unfortunate civilian refugees becomes a baffling query.

The people at Pesalai made representation to the Bishop of Mannar, Government Agent and the SLMM regarding their plight after the violence let loose on them. They have appealed to the Red Cross Society to ensure their security by declaring their refuge war free zone. They have appealed to the government, too, to order cessation of attacks on civilian targets.

Some of the victims of attack in the Church at Pesalai were refugees who had fled Trincomalee, seeking safety in Mannar.

It is a bounden duty of the government to provide security and protection to people irrespective of their cast, creed or race. The government must take necessary measures to solve the ethnic issue through negotiations and ensure peace and prosperity for all. The international community also must play a responsible role in ensuring peace.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil National daily, based in Colombo

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