By Sivaramakrishnan Parameswaran BBC Tamil Service

	Bishop says a decision on SLA appeal will be taken on Monday

The decision whether to take over the administration of the sacred Madhu church will be taken at a meeting of the priests attached to the church on Monday, Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph said.

While acknowledging that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has made an appeal to him in this regard, the Bishop added they have not yet taken over the administration as claimed by the SLA website.

War-free zone

Bishop Rayappu Joseph also made it clear that the church authorities will not accept any movement of the Sri Lankan army troops in and around the temple complex.

The church will not object to the efforts taken by the SLA to declare the area as a safe zone and the subsequent handover the bishop further noted.

	Bishop expressed regret on 'false media reports' over removing statue

“Declaring Madhu church and its surroundings a safe zone and banning movement of all uniformed personnel and arms from both parties will be our primary demand to the Government and the LTTE,” he declared.

He told the BBC Tamil Service that he along with the bishops of Anuradhapura and Galle have planned to meet the LTTE and discuss regarding the reinstallation and as such has sent word to them for a meeting and awaiting their response.

A three member delegation from the council of bishops will meet the Government side also, Bishop Rayappu Joseph said.

'False' media reports

Any further action in this regard will have to be taken based on the response from both these parties observed the Mannar Bishop further.

“It would be unfortunate if a situation further arises forcing the shifting of Our Lady of Madhu again,” observed the Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph.

Declaring Madhu church and its surroundings a safe zone and banning movement of all uniformed personnel and arms from both parties will be our primary demand to the Government and the LTTE Bishop Rayappu Joseph

The Bishop added that the main concern being the safety and security of the idol and the church.

Bishop Rayappu Joseph further said that though the army is not stationed in and around the church they frequent there.

In an interview with the BBC Sandeshaya, Anuradhapura Bishop Nobert Andradi expressed regret that many media have published false stories over the issue.

There was no pressure from any of the parties to the conflict to remove the Madhu Matha statue from the Madhu church as reported by media, Bishop Andradi who is also the General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Association (CBA) said.