Patron saint unites Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen despite conflicts
About 10,000 people visit Kachchatheevu to honour Saint Anthony in celebrations promoted by the Diocese of Jaffna and led by the bishop of Sivagangai. The latter calls on both parties “to work together to find a lasting solution to the conflict in the sea.”
Jaffna (AsiaNews) – Almost 10,000 people from Sri Lanka and India gathered last Friday and Saturday on Kachchatheevu, an uninhabited island in the Palk Strait that separates the countries, for the annual feast of Saint Anthony, patron saint of local fishing communities.
Devotees from both countries sailed on fishing boats to the island for the annual Mass.
The Diocese of Jaffna organises the annual feast with the support of the Sri Lankan Navy and the District Secretariat.
Bishop Lourdu Anandam of Sivagangai (southern India) led the service together with Fr P J Jebaratnam, vicar general of the Diocese of Jaffna.
In his homily, the prelate stressed the island's historical role among the fishing communities in the two countries.
“Though this feast is conducted once every year with the participation of two fisher folk communities, both remember and recall the blessings of St Anthony throughout the year," Bishop Anandam said.
For his part, Fr Jebaratnam noted that, “This is not a carnival event. We urge people to join the feast of Saint Anthony in the name of unity and engage in prayers that would help us move forward.”
The feast comes at an important time, with the fishing communities of Sri Lanka and India at loggerheads. The Catholic faith and the common devotion to Saint Anthony thus become a sign of unity.
Sri Lanka's Minister of Fisheries, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, was also present at the event. In his address, he urged Indian fishers to stop entering Sri Lankan territorial waters for bottom trawling activities.
"As a sovereign nation, we will take action against those who violate them," he said, adding that he hopes and prays to solve the problems faced by both communities while he is minister.
Rameshwaram Mechanised Fishermen Union leader, A Sesuraja, who also attended the ceremony, reiterated that both sides have to work together to find a lasting solution to this conflict at sea.
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