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Minister Jayasuriya switches on power supplies to Tewatta Basilica

The Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka at Tewatta, one of the foremost places of religious worship where large numbers of Catholic devotees flock every week has been provided with electricity supplies from the National Grid.

Minister of Power and Energy Karu Jayasuriya recently inaugurated the first stage of providing electricity supplies to the Church by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) by pressing a button illuminating the Church and its environs. The supplies work provided on a proposal to Jayasuriya by Minister of Interior and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga. The supplies have been provided in time for the preparatory Novenas being held prior to the annual feast of the Basilica to be held on February 8 and 9.

Jayasuriya and Amaratunga along with Dr. Jayalth Jayawardene, Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees and other invitees were welcomed on arrival at the Basilica by Rev. Fr. Merl Shantha, Administrator of Tewatte Basilica and conducted in a procession to the Church premises.

Rev. Fr. Merl Shantha, Administrator of the Church in his address of welcome thanked Minister Jayasuriya. He said Jayasuriya is imbued with humanitarian values, for the step he had taken to meet a long felt need of the Basilica in providing electricity supplies and Minister Amaratunga for the interest he took to move in the matter to represent matters regarding the urgent need of the shrine.

He said devotees flock to the Basilica throughout the year to seek blessings of Our Lady of Lanka to obtain relief from sicknesses and troubles. The provision of electricity would be a great boon to the pilgrims.

Fr. Shantha thanked Electricity Board General Manager W. D. C. Wijeratne, chief engineer of Ja-ela and CEB employees for working tirelessly during the past two weeks to provide electrical installations to provide the supplies and the close monitoring of the work by Amaratunga by making repeated visits to the shrine.

Amaratunga said the provision of electricity to the Tewatta Basilica is the result of a concept of Jayasuriya in providing major places of religious worship with electricity supplies. Under this concept the Kirivehara Viharaya at Kataragama was provided with electricity. Under the concept he proposed to Jayasuriya the electricity supply to the Tewatte Basilica to which the Minister promptly consented.

If not for the Minister's gesture, the supply scheme which will cost Rs. 16 million, would not have been possible because the Ministry of Christian Affairs nor the decentralised budget funds would be able to meet such costs. The cost is worth the investment as it would benefit the lakhs of devotees who come to the shrine.

The Minister said it is proposed to provide electricity supplies to St. Jude's Church at Indigolla and St. Anthony's Church, Wahakotte under the programme.

Jayasuriya said his Ministry has launched a programme of providing electricity supplies to major Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim places of religious worship. Many Buddhist sacred places have been provided electricity.

Dr. Jayawardene also spoke. 

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