US Cardinal commends Sri Lankan resilience
[January 13, 2005 - 12.00 GMT]

President Chandrika Kumaratunga received a delegation of foreign Catholic Bishops accompanied by the Archbishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis at President’s House yesterday evening.

Cardinal Edgar McCarrick, the Archbishop of Washington, and Rev. Dr. John Kirby the Bishop of Clonfert, Ireland, also the Chairman of Trocaire an Irish Catholic Aid Agency arrived in the island Tuesday 11th January. The distinguished were impressed with the efficiency of the relief efforts of Sri Lankans. They had visited tsunami hit Southern District and spent time in Galle.

Cardinal McCarrick said his team was astonished by the resilience displayed by all Sri Lankans in the wake such a terrible catastrophe. He told the President he had observed the people in the South had risen above cast, creed and religion to help their affected brethren. The Cardinal commended the President on her leadership at this time of grave crisis and said he hoped that this terrible disaster would in someway contribute to peaceful co-existence in the future. “Having seen the relief activities in Galle I am convinced that this is a manifestation of how Sri Lankans can work together,” he said.

Several issues on how the Church could assist Sri Lanka were discussed. The Cardinal offered the Church’s assistance and said “we would always be there ready to help if you call upon us”.

The Irish Bishop John Kirby with much experience in several disaster situations said that millions of Euros had already been collected and will be utilized to help Sri Lanka rebuild over the next five years. “We have not identified the areas and do not want to duplicate. Our commitment has no other purpose than relief assistance” he assured.

Bishop Kirby said their expertise in child trauma care and counselling could be made available to Sri Lanka to help the scores of children who have survived the tsunami. Trocaire has already begun a training Buddhist monks and members of the Anglican and Catholic clergy in Galle in post trauma counselling.

President of the Catholic Relief Services in the US Ken Hackette who was also part of the delegation is already working with the Centre for National Operations (CNO) to provide children with school uniforms and other school accessories.

President Kumaratunga briefed the delegation on the Task Forces that have been established and their functions and said a special website has been launched to update the international community on every stage Sri Lanka’s plans for redevelopment.

Cardinal McCarrick thanked the President for favouring them with an appointment despite her current busy schedule. The President thanked the eminent clergymen for coming to Sri Lanka to get first hand knowledge of the December 26 tidal wave disaster.

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Last Updated Date: January 13, 2005 - 12.00 GMT