by Melani Manel Perera

The sanctuary of Myliddy, founded by the Portuguese and devastated by the Dutch, was abandoned during the long civil war. It has now been restored with the help of the military, and reopened. A hope that life can return to normal in Jaffna.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - On 20 March, the Church of the Presentation of the Lord, in Jaffna, witnessed the celebration of its first mass after 20 years of war, with the participation of over 2 thousand faithful, and many soldiers.

The Church of the Presentation of the Lord stands on a Portuguese shrine that dates back over 300 years in the village of Myliddy in Kotikaman, Jaffna peninsula. The old church was damaged by the Dutch when they invaded the area. Because of the war and the threat of terrorism in the area it was abandoned for the last 12 years. It has now been restored and 20 March the first mass was celebrated there by Father Justin B. Gnanapragasam, vicar general of the diocese of Jaffna, along with 5 other religious.

Brigadier B.C.J.A.F Rodrigo attended the mass on behalf of the Security Forces Headquarters of Jaffna.

There were many soldiers present, some of them moved - in the words of a soldier-"of about 2 thousand faithful who participated and prayed together, until noon. The people of the area gave them food and drink. Faithful and priests prayed for the Army for the help that we gave".

A few months ago the Church was falling down, full of shrubs and in ruins. But hundreds of soldiers in the area helped the faithful to restore it.

But the area is still subject to strict controls and in February, Mgr. Thomas Savundaranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna, asked the President of the country to lift martial law and allow people to return to normal life.

Now that the Church has been brought back to life, Father Gnanapragasam tells AsiaNews that the same needs to be done for Myliddy village, "which is now a jungle. There are cracks in the walls. But residents were happy to celebrate Mass together as a family".   In the days prior to the Mass, they were allowed to visit the village. They are mainly fishermen, who want to get back to normal life.

Even the Hindus are now thinking of restoring a temple in the nearby village of Keerimalai.

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