VOMC welcomes temporary truce in Sri Lanka

The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada, one of the signatories to the recently released “Toronto Statement” welcomes the government of Sri Lanka’s decision to declare a temporary ceasefire in its offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in order to allow civilians to  leave the war zone safely.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a statement today that people should be "given uninhibited freedom of movement from the no-fire zone" in the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period which goes through Tuesday. “With this objective in view, His Excellency has directed the armed forces of the state to restrict their operations during the New Year to those of a defensive nature," a statement from the president's office said.

The Voice of the Martyrs urges the Tamil Tigers to respond in kind by allowing those civilians trapped by the conflict to leave without delay and hindrance. We also reiterate the Toronto Statement’s call to the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to return to the negotiating table and resolve differences through a negotiated settlement rather than through conflict.  We also urge Christians from around the world to remember Sri Lanka in prayer. Especially pray for the many churches located within the conflict zones. These peace loving citizens from all ethnic backgrounds are uniquely placed to assist in restoring peace and rebuilding and reconciling the community.

To view the entire Toronto Statement, click here. For more information about the Toronto Statement, please contact Glenn Penner or Floyd Brobbel.