Over 80 participate in island church event

The church was inaugurated by Sri Lankan Commander of Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunarathne. A large number of dignitaries from Sri Lanka including Governor of the Northern Province, Reginald Cooray, Bishop of Jaffna, Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam, Vicar General of the Diocese of Jaffna, Fr. Pathinathar Josephthas Jebaratnam, Parish Priest of Delft, Fr. A. J. Antony Jeyaranjan, Consul General of India in Jaffna, A. Natarajan, District Secretary of Jaffna, N.Vethanayahan, Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva, participated in the consecration ceremony. 

As many as 82 Indians including three nuns and close to 100 Sri Lankans took part in the religious occasion.  Speaking on the occasion Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam said that the church could be declared as the ‘Church of Reconciliation’ as it is open for the reverence of all Sri Lankans from different walks of life.  He also claimed that in coming years, the festival should be conducted for three days and Katchatheevu should be developed as a tourist hotspot. He also demanded Reginald Cooray to allot fund of Rs.6 million towards development of tourism in the island. 

An annual function would be held in the church in February and March. A large number of Indians and Sri Lankans are expected to take part in the function. In this island, which has been a matter of dispute for nearly four decades now, the St. Anthony’s church has always been an integral part of lives fishermen of both the countries.  As the Church became old and there was no proper building for it. 

Therefore a foundation stone for a new Church was laid on May 9. Following that a new Church building with the same name of St. Anthony’s Church was constructed at the cost of Rs.76 lakhs (approx). The consecration ceremony of the church was earlier planned on December 7 and only 16 fishermen representatives from India were given permission to attend the festival. But following the death of former Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa, and a case at Madurai HC Bench the consecration ceremony was postponed to Friday and 100 people from India were allowed to participate at the function.