Navy renders assistance to conduct annual feast of St. Anthony’s Church in Palaitivu
 

Giving precedence to customary rituals, the annual feast mass of the St. Anthony's Church in Palaitivu was celebrated on 03 March, on a successful note. The Catholic devotees of Jaffna and Kilinochchi visited the small Island of Palaitivu on a pilgrimage to celebrate this annual religious event.

The annual feast was conducted with greater assistance rendered by the SL Navy under the supervision of Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Merril Wickramasinghe. Over 10,000 Catholic devotees from Gurunagar, Navanthurai, Passaiyoot, Valaippadu, Iranaimathanagar, Pallikuda, Mandativu, Jaffna, Negombo, Delft and Mannar participated in the mass. The Feast Mass was conducted by the Vicar General of Jaffna, Revd. Fr. Pathinathar Josephthas Jebaratnam and it was attended by Commander Northern Naval Area, Magistrate of Kilinochchi and a large number of reverent fathers, sisters and other dignitaries representing various organizations in Killinochchi and Jaffna Districts.

A number of naval teams, under the directives of Commanding officer SLNS Kanchadewa Captain Mahesh de Silva, made sure careful execution of events of this religious ceremony. Accordingly, they looked after transportation, logistics, infrastructure and camping, meals, medical, sea ambulance, sanitary, lifesaving and drinking water facilities needed for the devotees. Further, special lifesaving teams had been deployed near the Island for security of the general public.