About 2,500 Catholics were allowed to clean the Church of the Presentation of the Lord for Mass, which was celebrated on a makeshift altar. Some local Hindus also joined in the service, the UCANews said.

Some days before the Mass, the security forces had informed the Jaffna bishop that they would allow civilians to visit Myliddy village for six hours from morning to afternoon.

The government has also recently allowed Hindus to visit a popular beachfront Hindu shrine at Keerimalai village in the Valikamam area.