'The Soup Kitchen' and candle lighting hall for St Anthony's Shrine

Ridma Dissanayake

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa opened a newly built home for the feeding of the poor and the candle lighting hall at St Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade after being blessed by Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. The home for the feeding of the poor 'The Soup Kitchen' is a donation from the Basilica of St Anthony of Panadura.

The Candle Lighting Hall was constructed with the assistance of Sri Lanka Navy. Both are built on the land gifted by Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) under the direction of Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa. Secretary Rajapaksa, Defence Ministry Seva Vanitha Unit Chairperson Anoma Rajapaksa, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Director General (Operations) Rear Admiral Jayantha Perera and Western Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe were also present.

The First Lady also donated a generator for the use of the shrine.