Apostolic Nuncio urged to put pressure on LTTE to vacate Madhu

The government yesterday urged the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Mario Zenari to use his offices with the Catholic Church of Sri Lanka to exert pressure on the LTTE to immediately vacate the precincts of the Madhu Church and ensure the safe return of the Statue to the Madhu Shrine.

The appeal was made when Acting Foreign Minister, Hussein Bhaila met the Apostolic Nuncio yesterday evening.

The Apostolic Nuncio in response assured Bhaila that he would discuss this matter at a meeting with the Catholic Bishops in Kandy to be held today, and would also convey the government’s position to the authorities at the Holy See. 

The government also denied allegations that Sri Lankan security forces have been shelling the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in Mannar.

“The Acting Minister informed the Apostolic Nuncio, that the LTTE has brazenly violated the sanctity of the Shrine by its use of the Church precincts for hostile action, despite the fervent and repeated appeals, both by the Bishop of Mannar and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.  Notwithstanding repeated provocations by the LTTE, which has been attacking the security forces from the vicinity of the Church, including the deployment of heavy mortars, the government forces have not returned fire, in order to avoid causing damage to the Sacred Shrine,” a statement from the foreign ministry stated.

Bhaila had noted that the LTTE is resorting to its now familiar and sinister ploy of deliberately spreading calumny through its well-oiled propaganda machinery to mislead the people of Sri Lanka and the international community.

“The LTTE has cynically manipulated the situation at the Madhu Shrine, which resulted in the priests having to vacate the Church premises, taking the Sacred Statue of Our Lady of Madhu with them.  It is highly questionable whether there was any compelling need to move the Statue to a location deep inside the uncleared areas, whereas it would have been logical to take it to Mannar, for safekeeping with the Bishop of Mannar,” the statement said.