Around 3,500 pilgrims from India took part in the St. Antony’s Church festival in Kachchatheevu last weekend, after nearly 30 years.

The Sri Lankan Navy welcomed the Indian pilgrims, most of them from Rameswaram and Pamban in Tamil Nadu.
Led by Rev. A. Joseph Lourduraja, Vicar General, Sivaganga diocese, Rev. Michael Raj (Rameswaram) and Rev. Amalraj (Sri Lanka), special masses were held in the church, reported the Hindu.

“This is absolutely marvellous to see the participants from two countries in Kachchatheevu after several years. They have come here with devotion on pilgrimage. I hope this will continue in the future also,” said General  Mahinda Hathurashinga.

“Besides a large number of Indian pilgrims, fishermen and Christians from Delft, Kayts and Jaffna also participated in the festival,” said K. Ganesh, Government Agent, Jaffna peninsula.

T. Amuthan, a Sri Lankan who had lost his right leg in a shell attack during the war, said it was an occasion to seek the divine intervention to ensure lasting peace in Sri Lanka, which had witnessed a war for about 25 years, the Hindu reported.

“As Indians we feel immensely happy that our right (visiting Kachchatheevu as pilgrims) mentioned in the 1974 agreement, has been restored after a long gap,” said SP. Royappan of Pamban.

Top officials of Sri Lankan security forces led by General Mahinda Hathurashinga, Commander, Security Forces, Jaffna Peninsula, and K. Ganesh, Government Agent, Jaffna, and Indian High Commission officials received both Indian and Sri Lankan pilgrims at Kachchatheevu, reported the Hindu.