RAMESWARAM: In a diplomatic vindication of sorts for India and the Rameswaram fishermen who have long traditional ties with Katchatheevu island in the Palk Straits off here, a contingent of fishermen from here on Friday participated in the consecration of the renovated Catholic shrine, St. Antony’s church in the tiny islet.
Initially, fishermen from Rameswaram had no invitation from the church authorities there, but eventually the Sri Lankan government gracefully relented, and agreed to let a select group of fishermen sail to Katchatheevu for the function after fishermen’s representatives here took up the issue with the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government.
The decision to rebuild the shrine came forth last year from people of both countries when Rameswaram fishermen visit the islet for the annual festival at St. Antony’s church.
Accordingly, the task was entrusted to the Sri Lankan Army to rebuild the historic shrine and its consecration was originally scheduled for December 7. The function was then put off to today in the wake of the sudden demise of former Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa.
The Bishop of the Jaffna Catholic diocese, Justin Fernando Gnanaprakasam, led the ceremonies Friday at the elegantly redone shrine in Katchatheevu, entering it after sprinkling holy waters and amid chanting of prayers. The Bishop opened the proceedings in the renovated church after which a special mass was held for the faithful.
The Jaffna Governor Reginald Gure, Sri Lankan Navy chief, Raivndavijaya Gunaratne, the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Jaffna, Mr. Natarajan, high-ranking Sri Lankan government officials and members of the Christian fraternity were among those who graced the occasion.
On behalf of India, an 82-member delegation from Rameswaram led by the Bishop of the Catholic church here, Sahayaraj, and including co-Bishops and Brothers and fishermen from this pilgrim island, participated in the function.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the judicial remand of 15 Rameswaram fishermen, apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in recent weeks for allegedly poaching into their waters, and lodged in Jaffna prison, was on Friday extended to January 5, 2017.
