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Friday, April 25, 2008 - 05.29 GMT |
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Army liberates Madhu shrine |
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 Following a successful operation to isolate the LTTE
terrorists occupying it, the Sri Lanka Army has
liberated the sacred Madhu shrine by beating them
off last afternoon (April 24). The soldiers of 8 Sri
Lanka Light Infantry reached the shrine as the
terrorists beat a retreat unable to face the army
advance, defence sources said.
The centuries old Catholic shrine is held sacred and
respected by Sri Lankans irrespective of religion
and ethnicity. It was a centre of pilgrimage for
thousands, especially during the annual church feast
in August, before the terrorists took control of the
area in 1999.
As the LTTE heightened its terrorist war in 2006,
the church became a sanctuary for thousands of
civilians, especially those who wanted to avoid
their children being conscripted by the LTTE.
However, LTTE agents evicted these civilians from
the church premises and turned the shrine into a
terror base by positioning its heavy guns around the
church and using it as a barrack for its cadres.
With the LTTE’s use of the shrine for armed
operations increasing, and concerns about the safety
of the much venerated statue of Our Lady of Madhu
that is housed there, it was removed by the priests
and civilians to another location within the LTTE
controlled area, leading to much controversy.
Meanwhile, troops battling the LTTE on the Vavuniya
front tactically isolated the LTTE cadres in the
church premises by breaking the lines of
communication and supply to what had become
terrorist stronghold inside the Madhu complex. Army
resorted to this tactical measure in order to avoid
any military operations within the Madhu complex.
With their isolation, and increased military
pressure outside the church complex, the LTTE began
withdrawing, with its “Malathi”, “Radha” and
“Charles Anthony” groups leaving after shifting
their heavy guns.
At present, troops are clearing the surroundings of
the church, as there is a strong possibility of the
terrorists having wired the church for explosives
before they left.
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