The Catholics are ready to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Madhu without any terrorist fear as the annual Madhu feast season begins tomorrow.

All arrangements are being made to hold the "Annual Madhu Feast" on a grand scale on August 15.

Thousands of pilgrims used to visit the shrine, especially during the church feast in August, before terrorists took control of the area in 1999 and prevented them from worshipping at the sacred shrine and paying homage to the statue of Our Lady of Madhu, considered to have miraculous powers.

The LTTE cadres occupied the church premises and precincts, had weapons placed in the area sett up road blocks and prevented pilgrims from entering the sacred area without their permission.

The LTTE also used the Sacred Madhu Church as a safe place for its armed cadres. As the armed forces tried to dislodge them, the LTTE carried out mortar attacks that badly damaged the shrine. Accordingly, the priests at the shrine were compelled to take the venerated statue deeper into LTTE held area in the hope of safety for the much venerated statue.

The statue was brought back after security forces drove the LTTE out of the entire Madhu Church area in 2008. On the instructions of President Rajapaksa the Sri Lankan Army carried out restoration work on the shrine at a cost of Rs1.18 million.

Catholics in many areas are reported to be making arrangements to arrive in large numbers for the annual feast at Madhu in August this year too.
Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry has introduced special bus and train services for pilgrims attending the feast.

Addressing a press-briefing in Colombo, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said Sri Lanka Railways will deploy three extra trains in addition to daily trains from Colombo Fort to Medawachchiya and back, from August 6 to August 15. There will also be a direct train from Matara to Medawachchiya and back daily.

The minister said a combined railway-bus service will also commence from the Medawachchiya railway station to transport pilgrims coming by train to Madhu Church. Around 50 buses will be deployed to transport pilgrims from the Medawachchiya railway station to the Madhu Church.