Jaffna Catholics hail military for renovating tsunami hit church

JAFFNA: The Army has won the hearts and minds of a large segment of the Catholic population of Jaffna with a praiseworthy job of renovations and re-painting of the St Anthony's Church at Manalkadu.

The tsunami hit church has been beautifully re-painted by militarymen and stands today in its pristine glory on the beach front at Manalkadu in Jaffna.

"This is a symbol of the newly found close affinity between the Army and the Christian population in Jaffna," says Samuel Mariappa, a resident of Manalkadu, a tsunami devastated village in Jaffna now struggling back to life.

Father S. Roy Ferdinand of St Anthony's Church told visiting local and foreign journalists last morning, churchgoers are extremely grateful to Jaffna 52 General Officer-in-Command Major General J. Jayasuriya and his men for their time, money and labour spent for the painting job of the church.

He said the Malankadu population is about 1,000 and all are Catholics.

"The church is the most important part of their lives".

Twenty two people died when the tsunami hit the beach front village and scores of houses were destroyed.

"We are also building some houses for tsunami victims with the help of generous contributions from premier private sector company and few NGOs," General Jayasuriya said.

Jaffna Commander Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said the Army has launched several welfare measures for the Jaffna people. "One of the most popular among them is the free medical clinic organised by doctors, nurses and military hospital staff".

The free clinic is sought after by hundreds of women, children and the elderly. When the journalists visited the clinic last afternoon, there were patients lined up to receive medicine and treatment.

"Gods will save these fair doctors who help us," says 46-year-old Jasanthi, a mother of five who brought her mother and the youngest son Bhindusara. She said the nearest hospital was 12 kilometres away and due to transport difficulties there was no possibility for them to go to the hospital. "These angels have come to save us".

Gen. Chandrasiri said relations between the army and the people had improved and the task of maintaining of law and order and civil administration became less strained.