All Clear’ for Madhu feast

The military has given a written assurance that it would open the Madhu Road from August 10 to 17, to enable pilgrims from the South to visit the holy shrine for the August 15 Madhu Matha feast.
The road closed by the army after the August 15 feast last year, was not opened for the July 2 feast this year. The LTTE which has given a verbal assurance, is expected to give it in writing tomorrow.
The breakthrough was significant, as Mannar was tense with operations and counter operations by the two sides, and only last Tuesday, the LTTE targeted an army vehicle at Cheddikulam on the Mannar-Medawachchiya Road.
The two sides, following several meetings with the church authorities and the ICRC, have agreed to refrain from any political or military activity, ahead of and after the feast, until all pilgrims have left.
The army had last month declined to open the Madhu Road for the July 2 feast, even after the LTTE agreed to do so after a meeting between Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph and LTTE Political Wing Leader S.P. Thamilselvan.
As the military agreement was not forthcoming for last month’s feast, access to the Madhu shrine was through the Uliyankulam Road.
Two days after the feast, Bishop Joseph wrote to Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on July 4, requesting the army to open the Madhu Road for the main August feast.
After the matter was taken up at a high level security conference, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa had instructed Additional Secretary R.M. Ratnayake to write to Bishop Joseph. Accordingly, MOD clearance was granted, courtesy a letter dated July 23, addressed to the Bishop of Mannar and signed by Assistant Secretary Defence, H.A. Chaminda As the Defence Secretary was out of the country, his brother, Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, met Bishop Joseph and sorted out matters on Monday.
In April this year, during an audience with Pope Benedict XVI, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was requested by Vaticam Secretary Cardinal Tarcisco Bertone to allow pilgrims to visit the holy shrine.
LTTE top official Suda Master conveyed the LTTE’s clearance to open its side of the Road for the Madhu feast and on Monday a written assurance is to be sent to the Mannar Bishop.
There were also meetings between Bishop Joseph and outgoing Security Forces Commander, Wanni, Major General Upali Edirisinghe and Vavuniya Commander Major General Ratnasabapathy and Brigadier S. Ranasinghe from the Wanni.
Accordingly, the Madhu Road will be opened from 8:00 am to 6:00 p.m. for all pilgrims but, the church authorities are trying to obtain clearance for a 24-hour opening during these days. Church and civil authorities are confident that there would be a turn out of between one to two lakhs from the South and the North. During peace times, an average 500,000 people make the trek to the Madhu shrine from around the country.
Anuradhapura Biship Norbert Anradhi and Galle Bishop Harold Anthony have confirmed participation and so have more than half-dozen priests, Mannar Bishop Joseph said.
Bishop Joseph said that while pilgrims of all faiths would have their unique spiritual experience, he was keen on having pilgrims from the north and south to live together as a testimony of unity and brotherhood in a country torn apart by strife from war. He said the theme this time is Prayer for Peace and pilgrims are advised to bring their tents as usual, as there are only limited housing facilities.
All proceeds are used for the maintenance of this 450-year-old holy shrine in the middle of a jungle.
The nine-day novenas, ahead of the August 15 feast, will commence tomorrow, with the hoisting of the church flag, a day after the church administrator Rev. Fr. S. Emillanaspulle celebrated his silver jubilee of ordination.
Access from August 6 to 9, will be through the Uyilankulam entry point and not through the Madhu Road. Pilgrims are expected to carry their NIC as well as copies and vehicle insurance and ownership details with copies, to pass through army and LTTE checkpoints in the forward defence lines of the two sides.
On Friday, Mannar Government Agent Nicholaspulle held a meeting at the Kachcheri with all the relevant authorities from different sectors, including Health and Sanitation, Water Supply and Drainage, Food and Fuel, Roads and Transport, Police and Security attended by the OIC of the Uliyankulam Police Point and officers from the Thallady Army Camp.
This was the third such meeting held on Friday while the second was held last Wednesday on August 1 and the first on July 25 after MOD clearance was granted. The last meeting would be held on Wednesday, August 8 after road clearance.
The army is in charge of the first section of the Madhu Road which is nearly 800 metres up to no-man’s land, which is another 300 metres, while the LTTE is in charge of nearly 11 km. The road is being cleared up to 50 feet on both sides and demarcations made to ensure the protection of pilgrims. Clearing of no-man’s land will be done by the Army and the LTTE in the presence of monitors or the ICRC and church authorities.
The area south of the A-14, Mannar-Medawchchiya Road, is under army control and areas north are under LTTE control. The Madhu Road starts at the turn off on the Mannar-Medawachciya Road and is under army control initially followed by no-man’s land and the road up to the shrine is under Tiger control. The approach to the shrine is being cleared by the church. The A-14 Road extends up to Talaimannar, which is under Navy control. From Uliyankulam where there is an entry-exit point, there is a road that leads all the way up to Pooneryn that is under LTTE control.

(http://www.nation.lk/2007/08/05/militarym.htm)