542 Infantry Brigade Leads Cleaning of Madhu Church Premises

Under the guidance of the General Officer Commanding, 54 Infantry Division, the 542 Infantry Brigade organized a comprehensive cleaning campaign at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu on 19 August 2025, immediately following the conclusion of the annual festival season.

The Madhu Church is considered one of the holiest Catholic shrines in Sri Lanka and is visited by countless Sinhalese and Tamil devotees throughout the year. The annual Madhu Festival, which commenced on 06 August 2025 and concluded on 15 August 2025, is one of the most significant religious events in the country. During this period, a total of 338,642 devotees visited the shrine, with many taking shelter in and around the church premises. As a result of the large congregation, the surroundings required an immediate and extensive cleaning effort to restore the cleanliness of the church premises. Recognizing this need, the 542 Infantry Brigade took the lead in organizing a collective cleaning campaign.

The campaign was carried out with the support of the Pradeshiya Sabha Manthai West, the staff of the Madhu Church, civilians, and devotees, who worked alongside Army troops to ensure the success of the event. The cleaning programme was successfully executed under the close supervision of the Commander, 542 Infantry Brigade, with the active participation of the Commanding Officer, 4th Gajaba Regiment, and his troops. The event was further coordinated by the Civil Affairs Officer, 542 Infantry Brigade