War-torn Sri Lanka is to receive the first of a series of ecumenical "living letters" teams which will visit Christian communities facing situations of violence in different regions of the world.

Civilians are bearing the brunt of violence as fighting rages in Sri Lanka between the military and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE), church and civilian humanitarian agencies report. Long-term solutions are vitally needed.

Communities in Asia are slowly and patiently continuing the process of recovery from the major Indian Ocean tsunami of late 2004 – with the active support of churches and other NGO networks.

News organisations and NGOs are concerned at the increasing restrictions they face as the bloody conflict continues in Sri Lanka and the government seeks to clamp down.

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Dr Sam Kobia has issued a passionate appeal to both sides in the Sri Lanka conflict to end their violence and seek a viable political way forward.

Christian Aid partners are working to help displaced people in Sri Lanka after renewed fighting has forced more than 155,000 civilians to flee their homes in recent weeks.

The ethnic and religious diversity of Sri Lanka's world cup cricket team is a helpful contrast to the violent sectarianism that has blighted its politics, says the Bishop of Colombo

Catholic aid agency CAFOD has said it fears a new humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka following a recent escalation of ongoing violence in the north and east of the country.

Almost all the churches in Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka shunned Christmas celebrations due to a refugee crisis in their war-stricken region ‚Ä' writes Anto Akkara of ENI.

The church-backed National Anti-War Front (NAWF) in Sri Lanka has appealed to the government and Tamil rebels to observe an immediate cease-fire during the Christmas season - writes Anto Akkara for Ecumenical News International.