I have been happy to see that the People of this Country with unity and with determination faced these two challenges and have successfully overcome them.

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka through Caritas – the Social and Economic Development Centre, which completed 40 years of existence last year, has been in the forefront of providing relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction work following the tsunami disaster. The members of Caritas had immensely contributed to restore lives, to renew hope and to strengthen the minds of every one, not only Catholics but all our brothers and sisters who unfortunately fell victims of that disaster. 

With the same challenge, the Catholic Church, reached out to every affected corner of the sea shore and “no war zone” through SEDEC and the Diocesan Centres: Sethsarana (Colombo), HUDEC (Jaffna) EHED (Trincomalee-Batticaloa) and SED (Galle) to assist our internally displaced brothers and sisters in their immediate needs who were temporarily housed in the camps.

Details of these two tasks were presented just now by His Lordship Bishop Harold Perera the Chairman and his Collaborators.

We continue to admire the prompt services and activities of every kind performed by Caritas –SEDEC to alleviate the burdens of the people irrespective of race and religion.

We are ever so grateful Caritas Sri Lanka that the trauma of the Tsunami which left hidden wounds in the minds of our brothers and sisters were well cared for ; and their tears of having lost the lives of their near and dear ones and all their possessions have been wiped away ; well balanced untiring efforts, well organized and well done by Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC !

When at the beginning of this ceremony, our Rev. Sister read the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ as written by St. Mathieu, I got something like a vision, I could see on one hand people crying, loosing their lives and properties, sharing tears, these people are the  victims  of the Tsunami disaster. On the other hand, in my vision, I could see people coming with food, clothes, houses, money and all kinds of help, those people have been and are you, dear Bishops, dear Rev. Fathers and sisters, dear national and international benefactors. You listened to the word of our Lord, you made it to take flesh and it became a reality.

The Holy See is proud of you, the Holy See congratulates you, the Holy See encourages you and more, the Holy See promises you to sustain you so that the accomplished Mission has to see its journey to continue.

While representing the Holy See today on this solemn occasion, I wish to assure to all of you that every effort be it small or big with regard to humanitarian assistance was always brought to the kind knowledge of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, who on more than five important occasions has always drawn the attention of people of good will around the world to the socio-political situation of Sri Lanka.

In concluding, I have the privilege of conveying to all of you present here today, the sincere encouragement and the Paternal Blessing of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.

Thank You!