Govt. will bring Madhu Statue to original location - Minister Milroy Fernando

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Public Estate Management and Development Minister Milroy Fernando said the Government will bring back the Madhu statue to the original location once the reconstruction activities of Madhu Church and the demining activities of Madhu road are completed.

The Minister was responding to the adjournment motion moved by UNP Parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana (UNP): The Church of Our Lady of Madhu situated in Mannar District is a supreme sacred area revered by the entire Catholic community as well as by all non-Catholic people. Hundreds of thousands of people from the North as well as from the South come together in peace and brotherhood every year to worship Our Lady of Madhu.

Within the last few years, the sacred area of the Church of Our Lady of Madhu was a safe and peaceful refugee camp for the protection of lives of those who had been rended helpless and displaced due to the war.

The miraculous Statue of Our Lady of Madhu, which is several centuries old, can be considered as a national treasure and heritage of our country.

As a result of fearful military operations that took place in 2008, the Statue of Our Lady of Madhu had to be moved to another Catholic Church for its safety, according to a voluntary decision taken by the Catholic Fathers of the Mannar Diocese with the full consent and the permission of the sole incumbent of the Sacred Church of Our Lady of Madhu, the Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph. In the same way, the Catholic priests, sisters and the staff who were at the Madhu Church had to volunteer to leave the sacred area to save their lives.

Today this historic sacred area has become an uninhabited, isolated area where no religious activities are carried out. Due to the above-mentioned reasons, even the annual feast was not held on July 2, 2008.

As a result of the war in 2008, the Church of Our Lady of Madhu has been damaged in many places. Violent confrontations that took place there within the past few months had been the cause for the said damages. Although the Bishop of Mannar has made a request to the authorities to give permission to the Fathers and staff of the Church of Our Lady of Madhu to return to the sacred area and repair the damaged parts so that the honour, dignity and sanctity of the sacred place could be preserved, no response has been received for that request up to now.

The Bishop of Mannar has stated through the media that as soon as the damages done to the sacred church are repaired under his supervision in a manner that the honour of the sacred Church of Madhu is preserved, arrangements will be made for all the Fathers and members of the religious staff who had lived there earlier to reside at the sacred church again and the access road is reopened, the Statue of the Church of Our Lady of Madhu would be brought back to the sacred church, religious rites would be commenced and opportunity would be provided for the people to worship.

Accordingly, it is moved in this House that a conducive environment be created for the Fathers and staff to return to the sacred Church of Our Lady of Madhu and carry out the repair work speedily under the supervision of the Bishop of Mannar and to reside at the sacred premises again, the access road to the sacred area of Madhu be re-opened, and all the people who have been displaced from the area be resettled.

It is further moved in this House that thereby, opportunity be provided to worship and participate at the feast of Our Lady of Madhu again for all Sri Lankan people who eagerly look forward to worshipping Our Lady of Madhu.

Selvam Adaikalanathan (TNA): At present the Church of Madhu has turned into a controversial political issue. The Bishop cannot do anything as the Government does not give any positive response to this issue. Don’t make this issue as a political debate.

A request has been made to declare this area as a peace zone. I don’t know why the declaration of this peace zone is delayed. Don’t come up with false propaganda. The Government should hand over the Madhu church to the Bishop as soon as possible.

Deputy Chairman of Committees takes the Chair

Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister of Fisheries: Every year I have made a pilgrimage to Madhu. I thank the Armed Forces for liberating Madhu. During the former UNP regime, we had to visit Madhu as an area controlled by the LTTE. The President has a responsibility to establish peace in the entire country. We must be thankful to the President for establishing a single Ministry for all religions.

The entire country has to be made a peace zone. This is the need of the hour. Terrorists have buried landmines. Therefore this area should be cleared before the Madhu Church is open for the pilgrims.

Navarathna Banda (UPFA): Madhu has become a controversial issue due to the removal of the Statue of Our Lady of Madhu from the Church. Everyone should have the freedom to worship his religion. The statue should be brought back as soon as possible. We are fighting with each other due to the decline in our brotherhood. We all should stand for national unity.

There is an urgent need for national unity. This motion is relevant to the people of all communities. Our decisions should also not hamper the military victories achieved by our Armed Forces. We should promote religious harmony among all religious groups.

S. Vino (TNA): Devotees used to go to Madhu for worshipping. At present devotees cannot go and worship Madhu independently. Earlier devotees came to Mannar to attend the feast of Madhu.

S. Kishore (TNA): Thousands of Sinhalese people used to go to Madhu in July and August every year. The Government should hand over the Church to the Bishop. This is a sacred area belongs to all communities. The Government should open the road to Madhu.

Milroy Fernando, Minister of Public Estate Management and Development: When Madhu was liberated the second time, I got an opportunity to visit Madhu. I thank the Armed Forces for liberating Madhu. Why was the Statue taken away from the Church? There are landmines buried in the road.

The road has to be repaired. Security should be provided to pilgrims who visit Madhu Church. It should be declared as a peace zone. We should have the opportunity to enter the Church freely without any hindrance. Religious services are conducted in Madhu in all three languages. Sinhalese and Tamil Catholics should work in harmony. We have not banned visiting Madhu. Steps have been taken to remove landmines in the Madhu area.

The Government has cleaned all wells and constructed 200 toilets for the benefit of the pilgrims. We should consider this holy place as a place which can bring peace to the country. The Government is ready to bring back the statue. The damaged parts of the church should be reconstructed. Our endeavour is to bring back the Madhu Statue to the original location.