Kachchatheevu Church Feast on 23rd and 24th February  

A large number of devotees are expected to participate from both Sri Lanka and India in the  feast of St. Anthony’s church on the Kachchatheevu island scheduled to be held  be held on 23 and 24 February.

 Around 10,000 devotees form Sri Lanka are expected to participate in the festival, Jaffna District Secretary Nagalingam Vethanayagan said. On 23 February bus services will be operated from Jaffna to Kurikkatuvan between 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also bus services will be provided from Kurikkatuvan to Kachchatheevu between 5a.m. to 2p.m. We will provide all necessary facilities for the devotees and the Navy has accepted the responsibility to make the festival arrangements, said Jaffna DS.There will be special sanitary facilities for the devotees including additional toilets,” he said. Ferry services will be provided at Rs 300 from Kurrikattuvan to Kachchatheevu and Rs 225 from Nedutheevu to Kachchatheevu.

“The ferries will be subjected to checking before operating. The passengers will be provided life jackets and advised to wear it compulsorily. Around 200 Police personnel will be deployed for security during the feast. Navy will also be involved in patrolling during the ferry services,” he said.

He was speaking at a meeting at the Jaffna District Secretariat on the initial preparations for the Kachchatheevu St. Anthony’s Church Festival. Representatives of the Navy, transport officers and others participated at the meeting.