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| [26.04.2008 - Fr. Sunil De Silva - 18.40 p.m.] |
[ Photo - Defence Ministry - 26.04.2008 ] |
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| According to the news announced by the Government, that the LTTE had left the Madhu Shrine premises and the Sri Lanka Army has entered the Shrine premies. |
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The Vicar General of the Diocese of Mannar, Very Rev. Fr. Victor Soosai, was sent in the morning to the Madhu Shrine by the Bishop of Mannar for inspection of the Shrine. He was accompanied by the Vanni Sri Lanka Army Commander. |
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His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph, said that Fr. Victor Soosai the Vicar General having reached the Madhu Shrine, knelt down to pray and then he had inspected the Shrine, Presbytery and side chapels of the Shrine. According to the information received from the Vicar General, His Lordship Bishop Rayappu said, " that the side chapel of the Shrine has been damaged due to shelling, 2 sheets of the main Shrine has been swung away from the roof and minor damages to the Mission House area.Besides there are no damages to main Shrine as such."
Much awaited news was whether the LTTE had truly left the Shrine premises. The Vicar General Fr. Victor Soosai confirmed that the LTTE has left the Shrine premises, but the Sri Lanka Army is still at the Shrine.
After having to come to know the situation of Madhu Shrine, Bishop Rayappu said in the evening today, " Sri Lanka Army also muct leave the Shrine premises." |
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Very Rev. Fr. Victor Soosai |
| " Both the groups must give the assurance that they would not enter the Madhu Shrine or the premises, and there by create a situation to shift the statue for a safer place.". |
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Due to heavy exchange of artillery around the Madhu Shrine, His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph gave the instructions to the Administrator of the Madhu Shrine Very Rev. Fr. Emiliaspillai to take the Statue of Our Lady of Madhu to a safer location. |
| Then the Statue of Madhu was taken to Theavanpiddi Church on 03rd April 2008. |
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When asked from His Lordship with regard to the appeal of the government to bring the Statue back to Shrine, His Lordship said, " to bring the Madhu Statue to the Shrine , both the groups LTTE and the Sri Lanka Army must give the assurance that they will not enter the Shrine premises and create a war situation. I have to wait and see how the situation around the Shrine area will be safe to bring the statue. ". |
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Bishop Rayappu went on to say, " before we bring the Statue according to the traditions of the Church, Penitential Services will be held with the people, praying and repenting to ask for God's forgiveness for the desecration of the Church by those involved in fighting at the Shrine premises, thereby causing damages. We also had to take the Blessed Sacrament. We will follow those Church traditions with prayers and penance before we bring the Statue to the Sacred Shrine." |
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Bishop Rayappu further said, " We are still waiting for His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksha to declare the Shrine area as " a ZONE OF PEACE " which has not been done yet." |
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