The Cabinet of ministers at its weekly meeting yesterday approved a proposal presented by President Maithripala Sirisena to declare the Holy Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in Mannar as a sacred area.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu is a much respected sacred place for the Catholics and Catholics as well as Buddhists and Hindus flock to the holy shrine to pay homage.
Local pilgrims and many local and foreign tourists visit the 400 year old shrine during the annual Madhu feast, as well as all year around.
Due to the severe damages caused by the war and the long absence of maintenance or restoration work, the surrounding area has become decrepit and thousands of devotees making pilgrimage to the Shrine face hardship due to lack of facilities.
President Maithripala Sirisena who visited the Madhu Church on Sunday, paying attention to the need to develop the Church and the surrounding area has proposed to proclaim the areas as a sacred area and develop transportation facilities, roads, sanitation, water supply facilities etc., and provide accommodation facilities to the pilgrims and visitors to the Church.
The cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to President’ proposal.
