Violence in Sri Lanka Afffects Venerated Marian Shrine

(11 April 08 - RV) Tamil Tiger rebels have asked Norwegian peace brokers to pressure the Sri Lankan government to end violence near the country's most revered Catholic shrine in Madhu.

The rebels say the army has been shelling the church compound in Tamil-controlled territory near the frontline in the fighting.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka today expressed deep concern about the misinterpretations and unfounded speculations regarding the removal of the venerated statue of Our Lady of Madhu from the shrine to a nearby Catholic parish.

They say the transfer of the statute was a precautionary and temporary measure undertaken with the permission of the local bishop and at the free decision of the shrine’s staff until the security at the Marian Shrine in Madhu is restored.

Yesterday, Sri Lankan troops killed 11 Tamil separatists in several gun battles across the volatile northern region of the country.

The latest fighting comes amid government promises to capture the rebels' de facto state and crush the group outright.

We spoke with Jehan Perera of the Regional Centre For Strategic Studies in Colombo, who told us that while the government advance is slower than expected, the Tamil Tigers are gradually retreating.