Navy volunteers to clean bomb-hit St. Anthony's Church, Kochchikade

A programme to clean the St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, which came under a terrorist suicide attack on 21^st April, was successfully carried out at the church premises today (27^th April).

Under the directives of Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne and guidance of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva a group consisting over 100 naval officers and sailors were deployed for the task which was supervised by Deputy Chief of Staff and Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Adniral Nishantha Ulugetenne.

As part of this cleaning effort carried out throughout the day, debris from the suicide attack and remaining items were removed and the entire church premises was washed clean.

Navy’s fire engine trucks, water browsers and trucks were used for the cleaning effort. Meanwhile, the Navy has also commenced the repair work of the church, in a bid to restore it to the former condition.