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Special peace mass in Washington DC

A special Holy Mass for Peace in Sri Lanka was held on March 1 at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Crypt Church) in Washington DC. Prayers were offered at the oratory of Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni, followed the mass.

A large gathering of Sri Lankans, Indians and Americans (Christians, Buddhists, Hindus) attended the evening service co-sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Fernandopulle and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Peries for the 13th year in succession.

The celebrant and homilist was Rev. Fr. Quintus Fernando, who was specially invited to preside over this special service from upstate New York (St. Mary's Parish, Dansville).

The choir led by Melita Ethelbert and Angelica Silva, sang Sinhala, Tamil and English hymns. The lectors were Shanti Ananthnayagam and Champa Soysa, Sheila Codippily, Loretta Nedimala and Noeline Thambinayagam led the Rosary preceding the mass.

Among the distinguished guests were Ambassador Devinda Subasinghe (who had presented his credentials to President Bush earlier in the week) and Helga Subasinghe, Nihal Goonewardene, President of the Sri Lanka Associations of the Greater Washington and Crystal Goonewardene.

Ambassador Subasinghe expressed his thanks for the invitation to participate in this special and appropriate religious event. He stated that he was happy to attend the solemn prayer service for peace in Sri Lanka which he noted was critical to enhance the peace process in place in Sri Lanka.

It is the responsibility of all Sri Lankans to capture and sustain this opportunity towards a lasting peace, he said.

Fr. Fernando, in his closing remarks, stated that being a Sri Lankan hailing from Wennappuwa, he was thankful to God for giving him this opportunity to attend such an appropriate event to offer prayers in unison for peace in Sri Lanka at the Basilica.

He was happy to be amidst his compatriots, especially during this crucial time of peace negotiations in Mother Lanka, he said.

He wished to be counted as a prolific supported for future events, and thanked the organisers for the excellent arrangements made.

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