Troops ‘walk into’ Madhu Church

Sidestepping mines, dodging booby traps:

Ranil WIJAYAPALA in Madhu

The troops in the Madhu front were in a jubilant mood when we reached the most revered sacred land liberated by the Security Forces from the clutches of the LTTE. They were all smiles as if they were being relieved of a heavy load of their shoulders, they welcomed us.

“We have achieved our task as planned”, Lt. Colonel Senerath Bandara says giving a start to a small briefing how they had achieved this task which has been considered one of the most sensitive battle fronts in the Wanni.

It was just 24 hours after the troops entered the sacred Madhu church when we arrived there to observe the situation. The LTTE despite their vociferous statements had abandoned the Church leaving it for the troops to take over the area without firing a single shot.

The Church stands like a giant in the middle of several small buildings in the surroundings. The main doors were closed as it left by the Church authorities when they shifted the sacred statue of Madhu from the Church. Some windows were kept open giving clear view inside of the Church.

The damage caused to the roofing sheets and scattered debris of the broken sheets gives the impression that the fleeing Tiger cadres have not left the Church from their firing range.

However there was a sense of feeling that something was amiss from the Church. The glass case which covered the sacred statue of Madhu was empty. The Church authorities had removed this most venerated statue from this historic Church.

The shattered pieces of roof sheet and the dust covered benches and the ground gives the impression that it was unattended to for weeks after it was abandoned by the Church authorities.

Soldiers who had completed their search operation inside the Church were gradually moving out from the Church premises. Strict orders have been issued not to enter the Church premises with their guns in their hands.

“We are going to hand over the Church soon to the priests after removing booby traps and mines”, Lt. Colonel Bandara says.

It was not an easy task for them to capture the Church without firing a single shot. “We had to exercise a greater deal of patience in achieving our task deploying our troops to cut off all supply routes to the Church”, Lt. Colonel Bandara says along with three battalion Commanders.

Lt. Colonel. Ranjith Abeyratne, Commanding Officer of the 7th Battalion of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment, Lt. Colonel. Kithsiri Liyanage, Commanding Officer of the 7 battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and Lt. Colonel Jagath Kodithuwakku, Commanding Officer of the 10th battalion of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment stand along with the 572 Brigade Commander while explaining their victorious mission.

It was after arduous task before they reached Madhu Church area which is located within the ground allocated to the 572 Brigade which commenced operation in February 26,2006.

“Madhu Church was not our main objective. But the presence of Madhu Church gave some sort of significance to our battle front,” Lt. Colonel Bandara says.

They commenced operations from the Pirmanalankulam junction on the Vavuniya-Mannar road facing Madhu direction. First they had to capture Thampanai village which became a challenging task for the troops of the 572 Brigade.

The 572 Brigade had to capture Thampanai village in December. “We took 10 months to capture Thampanai village and it was only after that we changed our military strategy we were able to capture the village”, Lt. Colonel Bandara added. Thereafter, troops of the 7 SR, 7 SLII and 10 SLII continued with their mission to reach Madhu area capturing Pandivirichchan and Periyapandivirichchan villages.

“We have to cross trench lines dug by the LTTE surrounding the village amidst heavy showers which had lashed the battle front during the past few months,” Lt. Colonel Jagath Kodithuwakku explains. At this stage troops had to face rains of mortar and artillery fire as well directed at them by the LTTE taking the cover of the Madhu shrine area.

“We had to face all these mortar attacks without retaliating, Lt. Colonel Kithsiri Liyanage says.

It was after the troops captured Periyapandivirichchan by March end the 572 Brigade planned their strategy to capture Madhu shrine area.

Troops had to remove all the booby traps set up by the LTTE to prevent troops advancing into the territory and had to wait for weeks to cross the canals which were overflowing with flood waters.

It was on April 20, we decided to cut off all the supplies, routed to the Madhu Church from the North from Palampiddi road from the South from Madhu road and from the West from Periyapandivirichchan. The Special Forces troops gave them a strong support to prevent Tiger cadres entering the premises.

Three well trained teams from the three battalions were deployed, to surround the Church to take a close look at what was going inside the Church on April 20. Their task was not to confront but to strictly observe what was going on inside.

“Our idea was to give the remaining Tiger cadres an inkling that they have been totally surrounded by us,” Lt. Col. Bandara says.

It was on Wednesday night the three teams observed that the last unit of Tiger cadres leaving the Church premises along with their belongings. The Delta Company Officer Command, Major Wasantha Bandara and Charlie Company Officer Comman, Captain Dhammika Ratnayake were assigned the task of entering the Church premises on Thursday afternoon.

“We arrived at the Church around 1 pm on Thursday rounding off our long awaited mission”, Major Bandara says while walking along the garden paths of the Madhu Church.

“This is certainly not our last stop whereas our troops have already advanced further into another kilometre ahead of this Church”, Major Bandara explained.

In a few days the Church will be handed back to the Church authorities.

“Though LTTE used this sacred place as a shield for their military operations we don’t have any intention to occupy the Church premises. We will ensure security of the Church from the outside,” Lt. Colonel Bandara explained.

The de-mining teams have already arrived to weed out booby traps and mines planted by the fleeing LTTE cadres, giving the devotees a message that the Church would soon be open for veneration.

It is the fervent hope of the Security Forces that these pilgrims one day to remember the great sacrifices made in their bid to liberate this holy land from the clutches of the LTTE once they worship Madhu statue once it restored at the correct place by the Church authorities.