Letter to H.E. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, 7 October 2002.


Your Excellency,

The World Council of Churches has closely followed developments in Sri Lanka since the escalation of the ethnic conflict in 1983. The Council has been deeply concerned not only with the loss of life and property but also with the massive displacement of people as a result of the war in the North. Over the years the Council and its member churches have provided much needed humanitarian relief and assistance to those affected by the conflict.

The World Council of Churches is delighted and welcomes the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This positive development provides a sign of hope and promises to usher in a period of peace and national reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches meeting in Geneva from 26th August to 2nd September took note of this development and was encouraged by it. In a statement adopted on the situation in South Asia including Sri Lanka (copy enclosed), the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches called on its members around the world to accompany the churches in Sri Lanka in their journey to peace and to mobilise support nationally and internationally in favour of the peace process. The Council was particularly encouraged by the joint efforts of the National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka and the Church in Norway to bring awareness amongst the people in support of the peace process.

The World Council of Churches would like to avail itself of this opportunity to assure Your Excellency of its continuing support for peace and national reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

                                                                                                                                          Respectfully yours,

                                                                                                                                          Peter Weiderud
                                                                                                                                          Director
                                                                                                                                          Commission of the Churches on International Affairs