After the discussions held with the Government representatives and the Security Personnel, on 18th June, His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph, the Bishop of Mannar, informs that the Madhu Festival will be held in August 2009
His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa sent two representatives, Mr. Sarath Gunaratne, Deputy Minister of Aviation and Mr. Dayasritha Tissera, Deputy Minister of Vocational & Technical Training to discuss government assistance at the Festival.
His Lordship Bishop Harold Anthony Perera – Bishop Elect for the Diocese of Kurunegala and the Chairman, Catholic National Commission for Justice, Peace and Human Development, Very Rev. Fr. Damian Fernando - Director, Caritas Sri Lanka, Very Rev. Fr. Victor Soosaipillai – the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Desmond Fred Kulas – the newly appointed Administrator of the Madhu Shrine, Rev. Fr. Joycee Peppi Soosai - Diocesan Director of Caritas Mannar, Mr. Nicholas Pillai - the GA Mannar and the Security Personnel were present at the discussion.
The Feast of Our Lady of Madhu in August ( the Feast of the Assumption of Mary ) draws thousands of thousands people from every part of the Sri Lanka. Due to the civil war, during the last few years, Madhu Festival was interrupted and last year only a limited number of pilgrims were allowed to attend the Madhu Feast on 15th August 2008. Pilgrims were checked at Medavachchiya security check point and they transported in the government buses for the Festive Mass and brought them back to Medavachchiya. Pilgrims to Madhu have been travelling in their own vehicles, but due to security concerns, the government provided transport facilities.
With the end of civil war, hopes in the pilgrims have gone high to participate in the Madhu Festival in August 2009.
Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI in his recent appeal for the displaced people in Vanni camps prayed for Sri Lanka and said " “I entrust this dear country to the maternal protection of the Virgin Saint of Madhu, beloved and venerated by all Sri Lankans. I raise my prayers to the Lord that he may bring closer the day of reconciliation and peace.”
During the discussions held His Lordship Bishop Rayappu, the Bishop of Mannar, requested the assistance of the Government and the Security Personnel, for the security of the pilgrims, food & water facilities, electricity & sanitation facilities and drew their attention to the checking of pilgrims and vehicles at Medavachchiya, Mannar and Vavuniya without any inconvenience.
Hon. Deputy Minister Sarath Gunaratne said, " On the instructions and directions of His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksha and Hon. Basil Rajapaksha, we came to discuss with His Lordship Bishop about the proceedings of the Madhu Festival and assistance expected from the Government. I will be presenting a report of all the suggestions discussed here, to His Excellency the President and Hon. Basil Rajapaksha. Thereafter we could coordinate with the district office of Mannar to assist the Madhu Festival ".
His Lordship Bishop Rayappu mentioned according to the liturgical celebration of the Madhu Festival nine days of Novenas would be held prior to the celebration of Feast on 14th and 15th August and while thanking the government representatives and Security Personnel Bishop Rayappu requested them to allow the pilgrims to stay overnight at the Shrine premises.
The following points were discussed in details :
SECURITY
- To ease the congestion at the security checkpoints the pilgrims could bring a list of names NIID cards, so that the security personnel do the needful without inconveniencing them.
- Permission to be granted to the pilgrims coming in their vehicles to enter through Medavachchiya, Pariyan Alankulam and Mannar-Madhu Road Checkpoints without hindrance.
- Pilgrims coming to the Shrine in their vehicles to inform the respective police stations in their areas and obtain a permit for the vehicles.
- Additional security personnel to man the checkpoints making it easy for pilgrims to enter the shrine areas.
- The demining of the adjoining areas of the Madhu Shrine to be completed before the festival.
FOOD & WATER
- Sufficient time needed to clean wells, ponds, tanks and to test water for impurities.
- Open the canteens and other shops for the pilgrims to purchase what is necessary
- Shop owners to be allowed to come to the Shrine premises to put up sheds and structures at least 2 weeks before the Festival.
MEDICAL & SANITATION
- Provide sufficient facilities to the Hospital in Madhu with doctors, nurses and other staff members
- To equip the hospital and provide sufficient medicine to attend to the basic needs of the patients.
- The needy to improve the sanitary facilities in the hospital.
ELECTRICITY
- Street lamps to illuminate in the Shrine premises and the around the Shrine area.
OTHER MATTERS –
- There is a very urgent need to clean the areas surrounding the Shrine.
- The staff members who were attending to the work in Madhu Shrine, are said to be in the IDP camps. Permission is sought to release these staff members with their families, so that they could resume their duties at the shrine.
- These staff members are needed very soon, to attend to the work of Shrine
After the meeting the entire group walked around the Madhu Church premises and saw for themselves the damage caused by the war to the surrounding areas of the shrine. The pock marked bullet riddled walls of the surrounding buildings such as completed damaged Sacred Heart Chapel is a testimony to the ravages of the recently ended ethnic war. They inspected the damages and made further recommendations for the repairs and the facilities for pilgrims.
IDP SITUATION
Besides the matters discussed about the Madhu Festival, His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph requested do the needful to bring the family members together in the camps and also to encourage and facilitate more and more Rev. Fathers to conduct religious services and celebrate Holy Mass for the Catholics in the camps, which is much needed for their spiritual consolation.
The government in coordination with the District office and the Competent Authority for the camps in Mannar and Vavuniya have allowed Rev. Fathers to go to the camps to celebrate Holy Mass on Sundays for Catholics.
Hon. Deputy Minister Sarath Gunaratne informed that a meeting will be held very soon with His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksha and Hon. Basil Rajapaksha and with the relevant government officials to discuss further about the proposal presented. |
