Annual Mass of Iranativu Church held with naval assistance
 

Marking the first Friday of 40 day lent season, the annual mass of the Church of Our Lady of Rosary was successfully conducted with the assistance of naval personnel of SLNS Buwaneka on 03^rd March 2017, at the Island of Iranativu, located six nautical miles west of Nachchikuda. The ceremony held with the participation of approximately 700 devotees, started with the confession at grotto followed by the way of cross to the church, and the Vicar General (Jaffna), very reverent father Josephthas Jebaratnem presided over the festive mass.

The amenities provided by the Sri Lanka Navy, the key contributor of facilitating basic needs for the devotees under the supervision of the Commander North Central Naval Area, Rear Admiral Meril Wickramasinghe, included provisions of drinking water, medical facilities, electricity and ascertaining the security of devotees during their stay in the island which is uninhibited. Naval craft were deployed in the area with life-saving teams onboard to ensure safety of devotees on their way to the island which is considered as a pilgrimage.

‍At the end of the ceremony, the Vicar General, Cherish Priest in Mulankavil and devotees expressed their gratitude to the Sri Lanka Navy for facilitating them to offer the mass at such an isolated place without any difficulty.