Government expresses perplexity over removal of Madhu statue to an unsafe location

Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says the government is perplexed as to what reasons prompted the Statue of "Our Lady of Madhu" to be removed from the Madhu Church to a location nearly 70 kilometres away into an area of LTTE activity.
Speaking to media in Colombo the minister said even in 1999 when the security forces liberated the Madhu Church no such step for taken to remove the statue. He said the government is fully committed to ensure the security of the church.
But this commitment has been neglected and the statue has been exposed to danger by the spiriting away of the statue. The minister said the security forces have entered all areas other than the area consisting of the church so as to prevent endangering the church.