Catholic priests in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts held special prayers at the St. Anthony’s church in Rambaikulam yesterday morning before handing over a petition to the Vavuniya District Secretary requesting him to declare the areas adjoining the Madhu Church a no war zone.

Bishop of Mannar Rev. Rayappu Joseph presided at the prayers and a large crowd were gathered at the Vavuniya St. Anthony’s Church to place their signatures to the petition.

The Bishop said in the petition that though President Mahinda Rajapaksa had assured him that the areas adjoining the Madhu Church would be declared a no war zone, a slight delay in implementing it had placed the Madhu Church in imminent danger of being attacked by either party.