Sri Lanka: Tensions run high among religions

Fr. Gabriel Garniga, a Salesian missionary from Trento in northern Italy, describes the difficult coexistence of religions in a country that is still suffering the aftermath of war

Fr. Gabriele Garniga has been a missionary for 42 years (he spent the first ten years in Buthan and has been in Sri Lanka for 32 years) and currently lives in a country that is still suffering the aftermath of war with the north. A country which needs to go back to normality after 25 years of suffering and deprivation.” Salesian priests and religious have been present in Sri Lanka since 1956, so no wonder the figure of Don Bosco speaks to the hearts of the people, of the young and of the country’s adults. This was evident during the pilgrimage of the Saints relics two years ago.

Fr. Gabriele followe dthe saint’s example and learnt to “love people, particularly the young, to trust in Providence, to work for the poor and to endure.” He has held a number of roles, first working for the professional centre of Negombo (as a mechanic), then as head of the rehabilitation centre for young paedophilia victims, as a director of the new professional construction centre in Metiyagane and as of January as a provincial economer. He takes acre of the administrative aspect: he monitors projects, looks for funding to continue projects and looks after Salesian houses.

Missionaries help give young people access to professional training, although it is not easy: “They prefer to survive with day to day work. In some our our centres we encourage integration between young people from the north and south; we try to destroy twenty five years of negative propaganda in order to allow young Sinhalese and Tamil people to live and study together. It will take time before the wounds and traumas of war heal.” A minor seminary in Mnkulam is currently being built as “there are still vocations available as well as people who are interested in the Salesian charisma: new Christians automatically become apostles.”

The religious situation in Sri Lanka has changed significantly in recent years. There was calm until not long ago: “Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians lived side by side and accepted one another. It is not surprising that in many countries, Catholic churches are found in close proximity to Hindu or Buddhist temples and mosques are located a stone’s throw away from churches.” It is the sects that are causing the problems. “Buddhists don’t distinguish between religions reacted against Christian sects that entered exclusively Buddhist areas; only those who were a little bit more educated could see the differences and intervened in a coherent way.”

Churches have been destroyed and there has been tension which has led to police having to intervene, sometimes imposing curfews to keep the situation under control. There have also been strong tensions between Muslims and Buddhists in the east of the country. “A week or so ago, the police opened a department for religious harmony but some sectors opposed this government initiative.” Sometimes the religion problem is down to political and personal interests. Buddhists are afraid of losing proselytes for one rather unusual reason: all Buddhist families must support the temple, taking turns to feed monks on a regular basis. But a harmonious coexistence is possible and respecting others without disturbing religious sensitivities is also possible. In our centres too there are examples of close cooperation between Christians and Buddhists.”

There are aspects of Christianity that fit in well with the local culture. “People know about our way of doing things and about giving, even in the form of sacrifice: the community offers its service for the common good, because the Sinhalese people are generous and they help those in need. Folklore, the solemnity of rites, statues and processions are external elements that fit in with the Sinhalese mentality.”

Then there is Francis who strikes people with his “poverty, his detachment from material things, his communicative skills and his availability.”

Vatican Insider