Madhu Maatha statue moved for first time in 400 years

The statue of the virgin Mary has been removed from one of Sri Lanka's most revered catholic shrines for the first time in more than four centuries because of intensifying fighting.

The bishop of Mannar, Rayappu Joseph, told the BBC he had repeatedly appealed to both sides to respect the area as a no-war zone.

"We asked the government to declare madhu as a war free zone. The president agreed but it was not given in writing. If the government has agreed to have a peace zone then I think the LTTE would have honoured it. This is what TamilSelvan told me and Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith", said bishop Rayappu Joseph.

The shrine at Madhu is a pilgrimage site for over six percent of Sri Lanka's catholics. But now the statue of the virgin Mary they travel there to venerate has been taken away for the first time in more than four hundred years.

Appealed to both sides

The bishop of Mannar, Rayappu Joseph, said there had been intense shelling in the area and the priests had spent the day in bunkers.

He said he had appealed to both sides to respect it as a place of peace but the Tamil Tigers had set up positions in front of the shrine. Government forces who have tried to crush the rebels in their northern stronghold are two kilometres away.

	Bishop Rayappu Joseph handed the appeal for peace to the Government Agent of Mannar.

"The LTTE has moved into the church and the SLA is shelling them. The LTTE is saying that they are safuguarding their land and the SLA is about two kilometres from Madhu. However we could see that the army was careful in the shelling not to damage the shrine", added Bishop Rayappu Joseph.

Troops positioned two kilometres from the church

Speaking to the BBC correpondent in Colombo, Military spokesman confirmed that the troops are positioned about two kilometres from Madhu church.

However we could see that the army was careful in the shelling not to damage the shrine - Bishop Rayappu Joseph

The military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara insisted the army was not shelling the shrine and the Tamil Tigers must be responsible for the firing.

"We don't know whether we can come back and even if we come back Madhu shrine may be turned to rubble. That is the way both sides are fighting. If the Srilanka army does not decide to take a different route from pandivirichchan instead of going through madhu there will be total destruction". The Bishop says.

The statue has been taken further north into areas controlled by the rebels.

The bishop of Mannar said people who were sheltering at the shrine had also fled and referring to the statue he said "our lady had to go with them"