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.

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.

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.

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