President Mahinda Rajapakse has requested the Bishops of Jaffna and Mannar to urge the civilians to immediately bring to the notice of the police and security establishment, provide the necessary evidence and assist investigators, whenever violence is unleashed on civilians in the North and East.

In the event of civilians encountering any difficulty in complaining to the police or military authorities, such complaints could be directed to the government peace secretariat, the President told the Bishops..

President Rajapakse held a discussion with the Bishop of Jaffna Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam and Bishop of Mannar Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph at Temple Trees on Tuesday and the focus of the talks were on the North and East security situation and the day to day living of the civilian population of the two provinces.

At the talks, the Bishop of Mannar stressed the need to transform the entire district into a peaceful region where civilians of all communities could live without any fear or harassment. The Bishop also discussed the killing of civilians in the region.

President Rajapakse cited the two incidents of civilian massacre at the Wilpattu National Park and at Welikanda and pointed out that such incidents are internationally against all norms of civilization.

The president pledged to develop the North and East and while thanking the two religious dignitaries for their cooperation to establish peace, said that he would, in his capacity as President of Sri Lanka, take necessary steps to develop the North and East. The two Bishops thanked the President for deciding to declare the Madhu Church and its neighborhood a sacred area.

Associated with the President at the talks were Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse, Secretary of Plan Implementation, Ajith Cabraal, head of the Government Peace Secretariat Dr. Palitha Kohona, Chief of Defence Staff Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda. (S.S.)