Pope Francis on Tuesday said Sri lanka should uncover the truth about its deadly civil war with the lTTE and sought reconciliation among religious communities and respect for human rights, days after the war-time Government was voted out of power in the country.
“The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity,” Francis said shortly after beginning his first two-day visit in Buddhist-majority Sri lanka.
“The great work of rebuilding must embrace improving infrastructures and meeting material needs, but also, and even more importantly, promoting human dignity, respect for human rights, and the full inclusion of each member of society,” he said at Bandaranaike international airport, where he was met by newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena.
Francis (78) however, didn’t comment on Sri lanka’s refusal to cooperate with a UN investigation into alleged war crimes committed in the final months of the war.
“All members of society must work together, all must have a voice. All must be free to express their concerns, their needs, their aspirations and their fears,” he said. President Sirisena said his Government believed in promoting peace and friendship among people.