by Melani Manel Perera

The festival dedicated to the Mystic Rose sees 300 devotees, Tamils and Sinhalese, visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Lanka Tewatta. A tradition that has been repeated for 15 years.

Tewatta (AsiaNews) - Catholics in Sri Lanka trust their prayers to Our Lady to achieve peace and prosperity in the country. The devotion of Tamil and Sinhalese faithful  to the Virgin, is already well documented by the Madhu festival celebrated each August 15th in the shrine of the same name, for which preparation is already underway across the diocese of the country.  But it is also attested to by the festival dedicated to the Mystic Rose, held on July 13th last, that saw over 300 devotees from parishes in Colombo gather at the shrine of Our Lady of Lanka Tewatta.  

Gihan Nanayakkara, from the parish of Dalugama at Kelaniya, describes the organisational efforts behind the festival that has been ongoing for over 15 years to Asia News: "For 10 years I have been organizing the festival of the Mystic Rose and Divine Mercy in various churches in Colombo. I have encountered many difficulties in the preparation of these two moments, but for Our Mother Mary I do all this with great devotion".  

Fr. Shelton Dias, during celebration in Tewatta, urged the faithful to  "never doubt the presence of Our Lady Mediatrix" and "invoke Her every day" because "Our Mother Mary is the surest way to reach Christ."

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