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| Sunday, 23 June 2002 |
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Mannar Bishop lauds P.M. : Interior Minister donates five lakhs to Madhu Church His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph paid a glowing tribute to Prime Minister said that the Church would back him to realise his noble vision to bring peace to Sri Lanka. The Bishop of Mannar said this in welcoming the Ministers who had come to assist the Madhu Shrine which is in dire need of state assistance to keep the Shrine ready for the pilgrims attending the two great feasts on July 2 and August 15. "Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in his own humble ways has shown that he has a noble vision to achieve peace. We are with him in his efforts to bring the two parities to the negotiating table to bring about peace. The blessings of Our Lady of Madhu is with the Prime Minister in his efforts". Interior and Christian Affairs Minister John A.E. Amaratunga who made a donation of Rs. five lakhs to the prelate said that he last visited the Shrine when the IPKF was operating here and said thanks to the initiative of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today the people were able to travel freely. Minister Jayalath Jayawardene said that the re-opening of the Madhu Road was an extension of the hand of friendship and peace from the people of the North to the people of the South. At a conference held at the Shrine the discussion was centred round providing facilities and amnesties to pilgrims to Madhu Church. According to the Church officials they expect to have over 150,000 devotees at the two feasts on July and August. It is claimed that July feast would be the first feast to be celebrated after two decades of war with the participation of a big congregation, while the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Sri Lanka Government and Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam remain operative creating a peaceful atmosphere. 'Sunday Observer' reliably learns that the road leading to Madhu Church will be kept open from 7.00 am to 5.30 pm daily during the festival season until arrangements are made to keep it permanently open for 24 hours. |
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