Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday
encouraged Sri Lankan authorities and citizens to step up
efforts for reconciliation in the country, where a 25-year
civil war ended just months ago.
The pontiff praised the authorities` efforts in
aiding the return home of families that had been displaced in
the conflict, which ended in May, and said those efforts
should be increased.
He asked all Sri Lankan citizens to engage in a
``fast pacification, in the full respect of human rights.`` He
also asked the international community to offer humanitarian
and economic assistance to the country.
Sri Lanka`s victory over the Tamil Tigers ended
their campaign to create an independent state for ethnic
minority Tamils. Between 80,000 and 100,000 people died in the
civil war.
Bureau Report
