Madu pilgrims to be registered at checkpoint to enter church premises

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 July 2009, 12:39 GMT]
All pilgrims attending the annual feast of “Our Lady of Madu” will have to be registered at a checkpoint that would be set up at Madu Road Junction, Police Spokesman Ranjit Gunasekara told media in Colombo. Madu Church festival is to begin on August 14. He said the registered names of pilgrims would be computerized by the Sri Lanka Army. Those leading the pilgrims are expected to submit three copies of name lists giving details of persons in their respective groups.

A special registration form has been prepared for the purpose in all three languages and will be available at the check point, he added. Over 500,000 pilgrims are expected to participate in the festival, which could not be held for several years due to unsettled situation in the area.