Colombo (AsiaNews) – The Government of Sri Lanka and the Diocese of Mannar have reached an agreement on allowing the pilgrimage to Our Lady of Madhu Shrine to take place. Now the nation’s Catholics will be able to respect a 400-year old tradition after years of uncertainty due to the armed confrontation between the Sri Lankan military and the Tamil Tigers. Hindus and Buddhists, who feel close to the place of worship, will be able to come as well.

The shrine is located in the northern part of the country, which was the scene of fighting for many years. In recent years pilgrims have had to stop visiting the place out of security reasons.

The shrine complex has come under attack several times and the statue of Our Lady, which is venerated by the faithful, has had to be moved to other churches several times for its own protection.

With the end of hostilities hope has been rekindled, but only last Thursday did the confirmation come that this year the pilgrimage on 15 August will take place.

A Catholic Church delegation led by Mgr Rayappu Joseph, bishop of Mannar, met government officials in Colombo to determine whether the right conditions for the Madhu Festival could be ensured. The authorities reassured the diocese of their full cooperation and said that they would guarantee pilgrims access to the shrine.

The agreement includes the removal of check-points along the road that leads to the church and the end to the rigid security measures put in place during those moments respite in the fighting that followed the Tiger Tamil pullout in April 2008.

Deputy Air Transport Ministry Sarath, who spoke on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapksa, said that the government would provide logistical support, and this includes electrical power, water, health and hygienic facilities, as well as more to facilitate the coming of thousands of pilgrims who want to travel to the shrine.

After the joint announcement by the government and the diocese, AsiaNews spoke to lay people as well clergymen to see their reactions.

“It is a dream come true,” said Wasugee Kangarathnam, a 58-year-old Tamil mother of five. “I thought I’d never see the shrine anymore. I have not been able to see it for the past 35 years. Now that I can I am going to walk on foot to Our Lady of Madhu to thank her for giving us peace.”

“This is an historic moment for all of Sri Lanka’s Catholics after so many years,” said Calistus Henry Silva, a businessman from Kalutara in southern Sri Lanka.

“There should be no more checkpoints; no more controls on what you carry; no one should have to show their ID cards and have to answers like ‘Are you Sinhalese or Tamil?’,” he added.

“This is especially important for Tamils. Now we are a nation free from terrorism and pilgrims will be able to take part in the August celebrations in an atmosphere of peace and freedom.”