Colombo: The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has provided 2.5 million rupees for the successful conduct of the annual feast of St Anthony in an island church located in Sri Lanka’s northern waters.
More than 7,500 Indians and Sri Lankans flocked to the on February 20 for the two-day festival that was organized by the Sri Lanka Navy.
The Navy officers said the celebration has further strengthened Indo-Lanka friendship, reports colombopage.com.
The Navy recorded that 3,248 Indian pilgrims had come on 92 vessels to the shrine on Katchatheevu Island. As many as 4,605 Sri Lankans, including clergy, joined them.
The Way of the Cross and the Mass were held on February 20 and the main feast day Mass the following day.
The Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, the Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva and several senior naval officers also attended the Mass.
Under the guidance of the Commander Northern Naval Area, the Navy provided meals and all infrastructure facilities, including installation of sanitary and drinking water facilities. Temporary jetties were made ready for people to secure their boats conveniently, and special Sri Lanka Navy lifesaving including medical teams were deployed to ensure the safety of the devotees attending the annual festival.
The pilgrims have said that they were treated well by Sri Lankan authorities and were given snacks and food during the festival.
As per the 1974 and 1976 agreements, India had ceded the island of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka.
The devotees from India continued to attend the festivities of the St. Anthony’s Church which was established in 1905. The practice was interrupted during the three-decade long conflict during which the public was not allowed to visit the island due to security situation.