Indo-Lanka brotherhood mirrored in Kachchathivu

Ridma Dissanayake in Kachchathive

“Friendship and brotherhood between Sri Lanka and India has a long history. Strengthening this brotherhood is very important for both countries and all should try to strengthen mutual understanding between each other”, said Father Amalraj, a Catholic priest.

He was addressing the media at the annual feast of St. Anthony’s church on Kachchathive Island.

“Certain political parties in India are trying to create negative views and beliefs to harm this age-old friendship and brotherhood with the aim of destroying the strong bonds between the two nations.

"They are trying to gain political mileage through various means ”, Chief Sanganayaka of Northern Province, chief religious advisor to the Navy in the Northern Province, chief incumbent, Sangamiththa Viharaya of Dambakolapatuna and Nagadeepa Purana Rajamaha Viharaya of Nainathivu, Praveenacharya, Dhamma Kiththi Sri Nawandagala Paduma Kiththi Thissa Nayaka Thera said.

The annual feast of St. Anthony’s church in Kachchathivu was held on a grand scale on March 3 and 4. Strengthening mutual ties of friendship and brotherhood between the two neighbouring countries is the main objective of the feast. The main mass was said by Rev. Fr. Justin Gnanaprakasam.

Over 5300 devotees including clergy from Sri Lanka and India attended the event which was facilitated by the Sri Lanka Navy(SLN). Food and transportation were provided by the SLN. 119 Indian boats arrived.

The Sri Lanka Navy organized the conduct of the annual feast under the directions of the Defense Ministry and the supervision of the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake.

Four hundred Navy personnel were deployed with a special SLN life saving and medical team to ensure the safety of the devotees. Jetties were made available for people to secure their boats conveniently.

The Northern Naval Command provided all the infrastructure facilities, including development of all the by roads and installation of sanitary and drinking water facilities on the Kachchathivu islands.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Minister Douglas Devananda also visited Kachchathivu on the eve of the feast on an inspection tour.

Northern Naval Area Commander, Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, North Central Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Rohan Amarasinghe, Jaffna Security Forces commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Northern Naval Area Deputy Commander P.H. De Silva and Jaffna Government Agent Imelda Sukumar were also present on the occasion.

This church built in Kachchathivu is named after St. Anthony, the patron-saint of seafarers to whom the annual feast is dedicated.

The church is said to have been built in the early 20th century by grateful fishermen.

It was fully renovated by the Sri Lanka Navy for this feast.