A child light the candle on his palm

The National Anti War Front organized a candle light vigil to express the condemnation for the violations of Ceasefire Agreement ,and to call the parties to fulfill their commitment and obligation to the Ceasefire Agreement, and to call the parties to resume negotiation without further delay. It was held at the Independence Square at the dawn of the new year,31st December 2005.The National Anti war Front says:-

*We call upon the government to invite the Norwegian facilitators immediately to Sri Lanka to resume negotiations

*We demand that the much awaited meeting to discuss the Ceasefire Agreement be resumed immediately

*We urge that the military on both sides through the assistance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission meet to discuss ways and means of de-escalation of violence

*We demand that a mechanism is immediately created to ensure relief and rehabilitation to the North and East.

Priests from all faith of religion attended and prayed for permanent peace

The National Anti war Front called on the government to invite the Norwegian facilitators immediately to Sri Lanka to resume negotiations, so that all attempts to resume hostilities could be defeated

The relatives of the policemen requesting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to release their loved ones

People from all communities participated

"I want to play with my Tamil friends in the future as well without any problem" says twelve year old Chaminda Janaka of Wellawatte Dharmarama Religious school

Foreign reporters eagerly read the hand out, which was distributed at the venue

A Buddhist monk from Japan, who participated at the candle light vigil

AP Photojournalist Eranga Jayawardena clicking the moments

People came from as far as Anuradhapura to participate in the candle light vigil

"Country of all, and voice for all"

"I feel that, there has to be a permanent peace in Sri Lanka" says Iffat Fathima from India, who participated in the candle light vigil

Participants say that, they want to live in peace and harmony

Candle light vigil to prevent war and plead for peace

New year's hope is permanent peace in Sri Lanka

"I have not lost anybody due to war, but I feel sorry for the mothers who lost their children.War should not start, and peace should continue" says fifty eight year old Soma Jayawikrama of Polonnaruwa

Resumption of the peace process is urged by all communities

The National Anti War Front says that "We believe that the sustainable and visible public support for negotiation is indispensable to safeguard the ceasefire"

The participants from the South say that ,they don't want to see any more body bags from North and East

The month of December had been the worst month of violence since the Ceasefire Agreement was signed in 2002