(Colombo Lankapuvath) Jaffna Catholic church sources say that appeals were made to the LTTE to allow a group of Catholic priests and nuns to cross over to liberated areas to ensure their safety.
29 Catholic priests and 35 nuns belonging to the Catholic dioceses of Jaffna and Mannar are in the group.
Some of the priests and nuns trapped in the LTTE dominated area, have now started moving to a new location, Memathalan, in the East end of Mullaitivu for their safety.
Priests and nuns belonging to Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts are still with the displaced people.
The LTTE had set up their artillery and mortar guns pointing at state declared safe zones and are attacking the military.
As the last alternative the civilians are now moving towards Memathalan passing Puthukkudirippu.
There are six priests and 10 nuns from Mannar and Vavuniya dioceses and 23 priests and 15 nuns from Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi dioceses stranded.
Civilians and the Catholic clergy built temporary bunkers for their safety.
A young priest who came to the liberated areas with patients said that the LTTE stopped treating the wounded civilians.
A group of 10 priests now trapped in Suthandrapuram requested the Catholic Church in Mannar yesterday (31st) to take immediate action to evacuate them and the civilians as the situation was becoming dangerous for them.
There were over 50,000 IDPs in Suthandrapuram and the LTTE prevented them from fleeing to liberated areas.
Authorities at the Mannar diocese said that a special prayer service - Eucharistic adoration is being carried out from last Thursday (29th) to next Tuesday (3rd) at the St. Sebastian Church for the safety of the priests, nuns and civilians under the LTTE control. The Bishop and priests from Mannar and Vavuniya are participating in this prayer service. A one-day fast will also be held and over 5,000 people are expected for the mass.
Courtesy:Lankapuwath.lk