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The entire Catholic community in Sri Lanka should be grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for liberating the historic Madhu Shrine from the terrorists and restoring to the Church, Vatican Cardinal Francis Arinsay said when he called on the President at Temple Trees yesterday(Sep 16).
President Rajapaksa said the adherents of all religions in Sri Lanka always act with mutual understanding and commended the patronage extended by all religious leaders in this connection.
A delegation from the Asia region for the Liturgical Convocation of the
Catholic Church called on President Mahinda Rajapaksaat Temple
Trees yesterday. The Leader of the Delegation His Eminence Francis
Cardinal Arinze, Prefect of the Congregationfor Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacrament, Vatican State, Rev. Mario Zenari,
the Titular Archbishop of Zuglio and the Apostoli Nuncio
in Sri Lanka, Rev. Malcom Ranjith, Secretary of the congregation
for Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacrament, Vatican
City State, Ministers Milroy Fernando, Neomal Perera and S
arath Gunarathna were present. Picture by Chandana Perera
tual understanding and commended the patronage extended by all religious leaders in this connection.
"The Security Forces liberated Madhu Shrine to further consolidate the religious freedom and peaceful co-existence among fellow-citizens. The Security Forces were cautious enough to conduct their operations to ensure no damage would be caused either to the Madhu Church or the nearby buildings," the President said.
Although the retreating terrorists inflicted damage to the Church, the Security Forces renovated the buildings and handed back to the Church authorities to conduct the religious observances, he said.
Cardinal Arinsay said only after his arrival in the island he was able to see the actual situation.
"Sri Lanka is blessed with natural beauty," he said.
Vatican representative in Sri Lanka, Archbishop Mario Senari, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith and Ministers Milroy Fernando, Pandu Bandaranayake, Dayashritha Tissera, Sarath Kumara Gunaratne and Neomal Perera were also present.
