Taipongal is an important day in the calendar of the Hindus. With the dawn of the month of Thai, Hindus hope that a new era will dawn and that it will pave the way for a better future, said the All Ceylon Hindu Congress in a Thaipongal message.


The message: "Our brothers and sisters have been suffering in numerous ways for the last two decades. On this Thaipongal all the Hindus in this country pray that there will be salvation for them as early as possible.


We have been helping the displaced people in the Vanni in numerous ways. The Government arranged to release Hindu Priests and elders and also opened the A9 route responding to our requests and we also collaborated with the Government at the request of the Justice and Law Reforms Minister in providing education at Colombo Hindu College, Ratmalana for more than 270 children who were brought from the rehabilitation camps.


We also helped the undergraduates of the Jaffna University and the Eastern University who came from the IDP camps by making donations for them to establish their lives. We are thankful to London Kanaga Thurkai Amman Temple and Manitha Neyam Trust for financially assisting us in these projects.


We also thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP, Ministers Douglas Devananda and Milinda Moragoda for readily responding to our requests in the rehabilitation and relief works.


We were glad to be associated at the function held in Menik Farm, Chettikulam on Saturday when President Rajapaksa commenced releasing students who were in rehabilitation camps so that they can integrate into society. This release and integration is planned to take place in five stages.


At the same time MP Basil Rajapaksa has taken steps to provide infrastructure facilities such as roads etc, to Thiruketheeswaran Temple, one of the sacred places of Hindus in Mannar.


As a Federation of Hindu Religious Associations and Trusts in Sri Lanka, we have obtained the assistance of the Government and are providing whatever relief to the displaced people. We are at the same time conscious that a lot more has to be done for them.


We appeal to all our brothers and sisters on this occasion to assist us in the projects of relief and rehabilitation.