No Indian devotees at Katchatheevu church festival this year

The fisherman from Tamil Nadu was killed and another injured on March 6 allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Colombo:  Indian pilgrims did not attend the annual festival at the St Anthony’s church in Sri Lanka’s Katchatheevu island amid tensions between both countries following the killing of an Indian fisherman allegedly by the Lankan navy.

The two-day event which began on Mar 11 was significant for the navy as it had completed building the new St Anthony’s church.

Sri Lanka’s Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne said that no Indian devotees were present.

“This is due to the killing of an Indian fisherman recently where they charged the navy of firing. The navy was not responsible for firing,” Wijegunaratne said.

He said the navy only arrest poaching fishing boats in Sri Lankan waters and never fire at them.

“They can’t open fire without approval from the Navy Commander and I did not give firing orders,” Wijegunaratne said.

He said the navy had launched an investigation.

“We have asked India to provide us with Global Positioning System (GPS) location data of the boat in question. This will help us to investigate,” Wijegunaratne said.
He also said following a request from the Bishop of Jaffna last year, the navy began constructing the new church at the site which has now been completed. Nearly 7,000 Sri Lankan devotees were present.

Sri Lanka and India on Wednesday agreed to release fishermen held in each other’s custody after a high-level discussion here in a bid to defuse the tension following the killing of the 22-year-old Indian fisherman.

The fisherman from Tamil Nadu was killed and another injured on March 6 allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Sri Lanka Navy, being the main facilitator of the church feast, provides the needed facilities which include meals, infrastructure, and installation of sanitary and drinking water to both local and Indian devotees.

The Tamil Nadu coordinator for the feast Verkodu parish priest Rev. Fr. L. Sagayarajsaid a record number of 4,991 Indian pilgrims had confirmed their participation in the feast this year.

Fr. Sagayaraj had reportedly asked for a postponement of the event, but the Jaffna Diocese had informed him that it could not be postponed for reasons beyond their control.

A Sri Lankan Catholic priest involved in organizing the Feastsaid that the pilgrims wanted to come but were prevented by the agitators, the Colombo page reported.

Source: Hindustan Times, Colombo Page