Several groups of refugees have been picked up in the Eastern seas by the Sri Lanka Navy over the past several years, housed at the Mirihana Centre and subsequently re-settled elsewhere. It was therefore very distressing to read about the alleged rape of a young Rohingya girl by a Police officer at Mirihana and the mob attack on a UNHCR safe house where some refugees had been sheltered.

The Church believes that all human beings whatever their ethnicity, religion or social status are made in the image of the divine. It strongly condemns acts of violence against all persons whatever their origins and legal standing, including those who flee violence in their own places of residence here or abroad and seek temporary refuge. It is our sacred duty, whatever our religion to provide assistance and care to those who suffer or are in need. This is the noble truth that all our religions teach us.

I commend the quick and strong reaction of the government to the recent incidents and urge the authorities to give protection to all Rohingya refugees in our country, in line with our own values of hospitality to the stranger and our obligations as a member of the world community.

Rt. Revd. Dhiloraj Cangasabey

The Bishop of Colombo

Church of Ceylon, Diocese of Colombo

(Cover Image Source : CNN)