Jaffna to hold Methodist District Synod after 15 years

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 00:04 GMT]
The North East District Synod of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka is to be held in Jaffna for the first time after fifteen years on June 13 and June 14. Ministers and leaders of the thirteen circuits of the Methodist Churches in the northeast will participate in the synod, church sources said.

The President of the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka Rev.Noel Fernando and the Chairman of the Northeast District Synod Rev.S.J.Kathiresapillai will preside over the historical event, sources said.

The circuits in northeast province are Trincomalee, Valaichchenai, Chenkaladi, Batticaloa, Puliantheivu, Kallaru, Kalmunai, Jaffna, Point-Pedro, Mannar, Murunkan and Wanni, sources said.

The district synod was not held in Jaffna for more than a decade due to the war and the non-availability of proper transport system to the peninsula, church sources said.

The Synod will be held in Jaffna Methodist Church. The original Jaffna Methodist Church, which was located close to Jaffna Fort, was razed to the ground in June 1990 aerial bombing by the Sri Lankan security forces.

The Trimmer Hall of the church, which escaped in the bombing, was later converted as Methodist Church. The Synod is to be held in this church, sources said.

The Secretary of the North East District Synod Rev.A.R.Mahendran was responsible for making the arrangements for the event.

Ministers visiting Jaffna after fifteen years from other parts of the country would conduct special religious ceremonies in Methodist Churches on June Sunday, church sources said.