Revisting Madhu:

When four military officers vowed to free Madhu Church of terrorists

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

The sacred Madhu Church

Four military officers lit candles in the century old Church , the holiest Catholic shrine in the country. It brightened the huge main hall, which was in total darkness and had survived terror. The church bells had ceased ringing and cattle crept in fear of firing.

Together with 572 Brigade Commander Lt. Col. Senarath Bandara and his three Commanding Officers - 7 CLLI Lt. Col. Ranjith Abeywardena, 10 CLLI Lt. Col. Jagath Koddituwakku and 7SR Lt. Col Kithsiri Liyanage, who took a great risk to enter the mine laden path, had made a vow on April 29, 2008.

"The Sri Lankan military will definitely liberate the entire North and will facilitate the devotees from all four corners of the country to worship in this Church", was the vow by four Buddhist military officers that had echoed in the hall. They kept that promise and destroyed the LTTE terrorists from the entire Northern part of the country within a year.

Col. Bandara, recalling the mission to liberate the century - old Madhu Church, said that they lit the lamps knowing that the downfall of the LTTE had begun.

"In our military thrust not a single Kovil or Church or religious shrine or statue was damaged. Soldiers have saved them. But, the LTTE had destroyed many including the Sacred Dalada Maligawa. We knew the miraculous powers of the Church and are happy our efforts have brought results today", he said.

Specific targets

With the commencement of the 57 Division on February 26, 2007 led by its GOC Brigadier Sumith Manawadu the three Brigades 571, 572 and 573 were given specific targets to capture Palampiddi, Madhu and Mundirippu respectively.

The operations commenced on April 4 and the Brigades which were closing on their targets from three forces had encountered heavy fighting at Thampanei. The strong bunds built by the LTTE had made the mission difficult and slow. But under the directions of its new GOC Maj. Gen. Jagath Dias, the troops captured Thampanei on December 31.

The 572, which was entrusted with the task of liberating Madhu re-commenced its operations on December 31.

"It was a very difficult task as we were instructed by the then Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka not to use a single round of fire", Col. Bandara recalled.

As the Government declared a four square kilometre 'No Fire Zone' around the Church premises , it became a safe house for the LTTE to attack the troops knowing that the soldiers would not fire at the terrorists, who used their maximum fire power to stop soldiers entering the land.

While the LTTE's firing to retain their stronghold - Madhu was continuing, the terrorists ordered the priests and nuns to leave the Church disrespecting the pleas of the Mannar Bishop Dr. Rayappu Joseph, Vicar General, Fr. Victor Soosai and other priests who wanted the clergy to remain in the shrine.

Abandonment

"Keep away from the shrine area and ensure the area remains completely and solely under the administration of the church," Bishop Joseph had pleaded. But, the terrorists had no faith in any religion and had adamantly ordered the priests to leave and the helpless religious group, who devoted their life to God, had left the premises carrying the Statue Sacred Our Lady of Madhu.

The forced abandonment made the LTTE intensify its firing to prevent troops entering. Over 300 terrorists with modern artillery and mortar guns positioned around the church continuously attacked the troops. As the hands of 572 were tied with instructions to liberate Madhu without firing a single bullet, they sealed off Palampiddi, Madhu and Parappakandal roads to isolate the LTTE into one area.

"We deployed a small team to capture the land step by step. We educated all the soldiers involved in the military push. They tolerated the LTTE when they were firing at our soldiers", Col. Bandara said.

The 571 led by Col. G.V. Ravipriya inserted effective pressure from Palampiddi and the total concentration of the LTTE was directed towards there while the troops were sealing off the directions around Madhu.

While the LTTE area leaders were fleeing, a small group was kept in the church to attack the troops. From April 24, three eight-man teams of the 7SLLI infiltrated the Madhu Church premises and observed the terrorists' movements for 24 hours and informed that the terrorists had stopped firing as they had withdrawn from the area as the roads were cut off. The soldiers of the Special Forces confronted the fleeing terrorists and ambushed and attacked two tractors full of run-away cadres.

The observers informed that the LTTE had built several bunkers and mined around the Church.

"We had liberated the area on April 25, but took another 72-hour period to declare it as we were instructed by the Army Commander and Security Commander Wanni Maj. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya to confirm the area as totally free of terrorists", he reminisced.

Lt. Col. Bandara and his three COs went on motorbikes using the small path cleared for mines. Careful inspection around the church premises revealed that the thundering explosion heard on April 17 had damaged the right building of the Church and it was an attempt by the LTTE to say to the world that the Sri Lankan military had attacked the world famous Catholic Church.

No soldier was allowed to go into the church premises until Fr. Soosai had completed a 'fact finding' tour around the church to witness the damage. "He was very happy and he confirmed to Maj. Gen. Jayasuriya that no damage had been done by the troops to the church. He was surprised to see the way the troops captured the church without harming it.", he said.

With the first major victory - liberation of Madhu in the Wanni battle, the military bagged victories in every LTTE dominated land that they had stepped into until they killed the LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran at the Nandikadal Lagoon.

Soon after the liberation, the soldiers undertook the task of repairing the century old church building which was damaged due to Artillery fire by the withdrawing terrorists. Spending Rs. 1.5 million it received a facelift and nearly 540 pilgrims were given access to worship in the Church as a mark of honour of the liberation.

The Sacred Shrine - Our Lady of Madhu which is over 400 years old, that had been taken into the St. Xavier's Church in LTTE dominated Thavanpitty, an area 70 km of Northwest of Madhu on the orders of the LTTE - was brought back to the Mannar Bishop's House on July 22.

Today, the immense sacrifices made by the military, which lost its brave sons, has paved the way for the country's Catholics to pay homage to Madhu of Our Lady in a terror free environment.

For over 500 years the divine Our Lady of Madhu gives her blessings not only to Catholics, but to people of all walks of life who have begun to flock to the Church situated in a serene environment.

People, who believe in the miraculous powers of the sacred shrine, claim that no one could harm it and those who do so would face the repercussions.

According to Fr. Soosai, the Jesuit fathers first brought the Statue to Mantai, Mannar in 1583 and during the Dutch persecution in 1670, the Statue was taken for safety and hidden in the jungles. Later, the statue was placed in Marudhamadhu in Kandy.

With Catholics in Mantai bringing the Statue to Madhu, the church became popular as devotees from all over the country visited to pay homage to Our Lady of Madhu.

The historical Madhu Church is mysterious and devotees come to this church with hope of relief to their problems. More than that, many visit the church because of its famous healing powers.

To some, Madhu festival is a family re-union. For devotees, the church was always a source of inspiration.

With the killing of Sinhalese villagers around Madhu in 1985, fighting erupted and the terrorists captured the entire area in 1990.

They lost control as the Army captured Madhu in 1997, but they regained control from 1999 and turned the holy premises into a hub of terror with heavy guns and bunkers around until it was liberated totally on April 29, 2008.

Military officers pictured outside the Madhu Chrch after liberating rhis sacred place of worship

The victorious liberation was significant to the Catholics and the government commenced restoring its serene and scenic value from day one of the liberation.

First it was given a facelift and then the mine fields around the church were cleared. The LTTE planned to hold Madhu and had buried thousands of AP mines around the church and its vicinity.

Lots of soldiers were killed and lost their limbs to liberate Madhu.

But today, Madhu has gone back to its past glorious era with more facilities for devotees.

The Madhu feast this time is the biggest religious festival scheduled after the total annihilation of the LTTE.

Brig. Nishanka Ranawana, GOC 61 Division, who is In-Charge of Madhu, Security told the Sunday Observer that though there is no terrorist threat, with thousands of troops the security has been strengthened during the festival season. He said that one sqm radius from the Madhu church marked areas had been cleared of mines and pilgrims were asked not to go beyond the demarcated area. A fence has been erected around the mine free land.

According to the GOC, all pilgrims would be checked at the main check-point in the Madhu junction and documents to prove identity of visitors should be handed over to Army officers there.

"They can come in their own vehicles and a special bus service has been started from the Madhu junction to facilitate them", he said adding that they are not allowed to go into the surrounding jungles to get firewood as that area is not fully cleared yet.

Pilgrims need to provide three photo copies of important documents including vehicle documents and the names and ID numbers of the groups to the Army check point at the Madhu junction.

The Government has taken all steps to facilitate the pilgrims. The roads have been reconstructed by the Road Development Authority. The 12 km road - from Madhu junction to the Madhu Church has been reconstructed and carpeted. Electricity and water supply have also been restored. A 'Sathosa' outlet and small boutiques have been opened to buy essential food items for affordable prices for the pilgrims who are allowed to do their own cooking at the Madhu area.

For basic sanitary facilities over 500 toilets and small resting places have been renovated.

The Madhu area is bustling with life after several years. While the Security Forces are busy with a well designed security plan to ensure maximum security the Church authorities are now busy to hold their main mass at 6.30 a.m. on August 15.

The novinas have already started to prepare for the main mass.

"Until August 12 no one is allowed to stay in Madhu. From August 12 to 16 they can stay at the Madhu Church premises", the Secretary to the Mannar Bishop Fr. Suresh said adding that the government had provided facilities for the pilgrims to participate in the main mass.