by Melani Manel Perera

The Pampemadu centre hosts mass wedding for 41 Hindu couples, 11 Catholic and 1 Protestant. It is an “important step from a religious, cultural and political point of view”.

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Vavuniya’s Pampemadu Rehabilitation and Protective Accommodation Centre was the venue for the marriage of 53 former members of the Tamil Tigers. Altogether, 41 Hindu couples, 11 Catholic and 1 Protestant tied the knot in ceremonies officiated by 15 Hindu priests and 1 Catholic.

Fr Anthony Sebamalai, who led the Catholic service, told AsiaNews that he was happy “to participate in this important wedding” in which he could “help [these people] regain their lost Christian faith and values”.

The mass function was the brainchild of Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commissioner General for Rehabilitation. Many young people and NGOs praised the government for the initiative. Many of them told AsiaNews that the weddings were an “important step from a religious, cultural and political point of view”, not to mention a sign of respect for Tamil values.

The organisation Oneness donated each couple the sum of 10,000 rupees (US$ 90) as a wedding gift. Each couple also received a house near the Pampemadu centre to complete their rehabilitation programme.

• sri
• lanka
• vavuniya
• pampemadu
• mass
• wedding
• hindus
• catholics
• protestants