Madhu devotees must register
All devotees visiting the Madhu Church to attend its annual feast
will be registered at the entrance to the Madhu Church in keeping with a
decision taken at a meeting held on July 10 at the Presidential
Secretariat to make arrangements for the holding of the feast in a
peaceful manner, ensuring full security do devotees, said Police
Headquarters yesterday.
The meeting presided by Presidential Senior Advisor Basil Rajapaksa
MP was attended by the Bishop of Mannar and several Ministers and MPs.
Police Headquarters said a registration form had been printed in all
three languages to facilitate this process. The leader (Guardian) of
each group of pilgrims have to perfect the registration form with three
copies along with a list of names and addresses of the people in the
group (with three copies) and hand them over at the entrance to the
church. Devotees will also have to bring their NICs along with them.
A Police Headquarters press release said devotees visiting Madhu
Church between August 6 and 11 will not be allowed to stay over at the
church premises. They have to go back towards Anuradhapura through the
Medawachchiya checkpoint.
Devotees visiting the church from August 12 to 16 will be allowed to
stay over at the church premises. Devotees would be allowed to proceed
towards Madhu Church through the Medawachchiya checkpoint at the
following times.
August 6 to 11-
from 6 a.m. to 12 noon.
August 12 to 13 -
6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
August 14 to 16 -
6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
and August 15 -
3 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Devotees returning after attending the feast will be allowed to pass
through the Medawachchiya checkpoint at the following times
August 6 to 13 -
before 10 p.m.
August 14 -
before 12 midnight
August 15 to 16 -
before 10 p.m. and
August 17 - before 2 p.m.
Registration forms are available from OICs of Police stations and
Priests of Catholic churches in the area.
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