Indian High Commissioner to attend St. Anthony’s feast

High Commissioner of India Ashok K. Kantha will be on a two-day visit to the Northern Province on 23 and 24 February 2013. Besides participating in various events in Jaffna and Vavuniya during his visit, Kantha will also attend the annual feast of St. Anthony’s Church at Kachchativu Island.

The annual feast on Kachchativu Island recommenced in 2010, after a gap of 26 years. Since then, the feast has been conducted every year with the participation of a large number of Indian and Sri Lankan devotees. In 2012, nearly 3,500 Indian devotees participated in this traditional pilgrimage.

This year the ceremony is scheduled to be held on 23 and 24 February 2013. About 4,000 Indian devotees are expected to participate in the feast. The devotees will be arriving on the island on 23 February and will return on 24 February after the morning mass.

The High Commissioner will visit Kachchativu Island on 24 February morning, to attend the mass. He will also meet with the Indian devotees during his visit. Facilitation and full support is provided by the Government of Sri Lanka for this annual pilgrimage.

The High Commission of India, Colombo and the Consulate General of India, Jaffna will be deploying officials to the Island to assist the pilgrims.