Navy facilitates to conduct Palaitivu St. Anthony's Church festival on a successful note

The annual festival of the St. Anthony’s Church on Palaithivu Island was held on 13^th and 14^th March 2020, giving precedence to the customary rituals. It was attended by a large number of devotees from Jaffna and Kilinochchi.

Sri Lanka Navy extended major assistance for the successful organization and conduct of the event under the directive of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva and supervision of Deputy Chief of Staff and the Commander Northern Area, Rear Admiral Kapila Samaraweera.

It was reported that over 5,000 Catholic devotees from Jaffna, Delft, Gurunagr, Navanthurei, Passairur, Paleipadu, Iraneimathanagar, Pallikkuda, Mandathivu as well as Negombo and Mannar have attended this year festival. The Feast Mass was conducted by the Vicar General of the Jaffna Roman Catholic Diocese, Very Rev. Dr. P.J. Jebaratnam. Deputy Chief of Staff and the Commander Northern Area, Rear Admiral Kapila Samaraweera, Deputy Area Commander, senior officers, sailors and number of distinguished guests were present on the occasion.

The Commanding Officer SLNS Kanchadewa, Captain Anil Bowatta along with officers and sailors of SLNS Kanchadewa made arrangements of the event by providing all facilities including transportation, sanitary, food and drink, medicine and infrastructure needs to the festival. Besides, special SLN lifesaving teams were also deployed to ensure the safety of the devotees attending the annual festival.