Navy's preparedness to conduct Kachchathivu feast 2020 on high note

The St. Anthony's sacred Church on Kachchativu Island located close to Indo-Lanka Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), has long been a pinnacle of respect of both Indian and Sri Lankan Catholic devotees. The annual feast of the church is scheduled to be held in this year too and Sri Lanka Navy is working in full swing to facilitate the event’s proceedings.

It is expected that about 10000 Sri Lankan and Indian devotees including priests and nuns will be participating in the feast scheduled to be held on 7^th March 2020. Accordingly, under the directives of Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Command supervised by the Commander Northern Naval Area and Deputy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Kapila Samaraweera, are currently engaged in providing infrastructure facilities, including installation of sanitary and drinking water facilities as well as mobile generators. Apart from that, temporary jetties being constructed for people to secure their boats conveniently and special SLN lifesaving including medical teams are expected to be deployed to ensure the safety of the devotees attending the annual festival.

As such, the Navy has made all arrangements in place to ferry priests, government officials, dignitaries, devotees, local and foreign journalists as well as equipment needed for the church mass, from KKS harbour and Kurikattuwan Jetty to the Kachchathiv.