Indians , Lankans at St. Anthony’s feast in Katchativu
By Ranil Wijayapala
The Sri Lanka Navy has made arrangements to facilitate more than
10,000 locals and 3,000 Indians attending the annual St. Antony’s feast
in Katchativu island which is to be celebrated on a grand scale for the
second time after the completion of humanitarian operations.
Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya told the Sunday
Observer that more than 3,000 people were present at the Katchativu
islands to attend the first day of the festival yesterday.
“The Navy has provided the necessary facilities for people attending
from Sri Lanka and India for the festival”, the spokesman said.
Despite recent allegations regarding the fishermen issue, many Indian
fishermen are expected to participate at the festival.
The festival began yesterday and will continue today with the
participation of thousands of Catholic devotees whose livelihood is
fishing. The Navy spokesman said the Navy had developed all the by-roads
and installed sanitation and drinking water facilities for people
attending the festival.
“Jetty’s have also been made available for people to dock their
boats, while life-saving teams were deployed to ensure the safety of the
devotees attending the festival”, he added.
In addition transport facilities from Jaffna has also been made
available for locals attending the festival.
The Katchativu island is located 17 Nautical Miles South West of
Delft island and 15 Nautical Miles North of Thalai Mannar and it has
long-served as Tamil Nadu, Mannar and Jaffna fishermen to dry nets and
to take a rest. It also serve as a refuge in times of emergency.
The Katchativu church comes under the parish of Neduntheevu island of
Jaffna district.
Katchativu , which was long an island of contention between India and
Sri Lanka, became a part of Sri Lanka through an agreement concluded in
1974, being on the boundary of Historic Waters between the two
countries. However, according to the agreement,
Indian fishermen and pilgrims can continue to have access to
Katchativu as before, without any travel documents being required by the
Sri Lankan authorities.
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