More than 200,000 devotees from all parts of the country celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Madhu on August 15 without any fear after 30 years under the full state patronage.

This was highest crowd ever recorded after a three decade long terrorist war launched by the LTTE. Devotees enjoyed their religious freedom having stayed overnight at the church premises which was cleared of mines by the Security Forces ensuring their safety.

‘The Madhu feast is celebrated in a peaceful country for the first time,’ said the new Archbishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Malcom Ranjith Fernando.

"We should rise above our narrow differences to march towards a society where morals and values reign, he said.

He said people should be committed to create a society where they react to situations not by their emotions but by their brains. He said he prayed that all the displaced civilians now living in camps will be soon resettled and allowed to participate at the feast to make it a real feast in a peaceful country.

The' Uthuru Vasanthaya' Task Force, in collaboration with the security forces and police has made elaborate arrangements to provide all facilities needed to cater to the pilgrims visiting the Madhu shrine to attend the annual feast.

The 12 km access road to the shrine which was in a dilapidated state has been rehabilitated for the feast. Reconstruction of the roads within the Madhu shrine area has commenced at a cost of 157 million rupees. The Government has also allocated Rs. 2 million to rehabilitate and refurbish the Madhu Post Office.

Former Archbishop Oswald Gomis, Jaffna Bishop Thomas Saundranayagam and Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph also participated in the mass.

Ministers Milroy Fernando, Sarath Kumara Gunaratne and Northern Province Governor Major Gen. (Retd) G.A Chandrasiri also participated at the Mass.