Kachchativu St.Antony’s Church

St .Antony’s shrine is a famous Church, located at Kachchativu which is an uninhabited island with 1.15 square kilometer in extent. The island was earlier owned by the Ramanad Kingdom of Ramanathapuram district (Tamil Nadu) before Indian independence. Then, according to an agreement signed by the Government of India in 1974, Kachchativu was handed over to Sri Lanka. The festival which runs for 3 days in March remains as an umbilical cord for the Indo-Sri Lankan relationship. The priests from both India and Sri Lanka conduct the mass and car procession.

This festival also gives the participants an opportunity to share hopes and renew with tradition, in an area shared harmoniously by Tamils from both countries. There is not a drop of drinking water on the island and the only structure is the Church named after St. Antony, patron-saint of seafarers, to whom the feast is dedicated. But there is no shelter, no food, and nothing to sight-see, except the choppy blue waters of the Palk Straits all round.

Electricity, security, food, infrastructure, and internal transport for the devotees were all handled by the Sri Lankan officials. Lifeguards and medical teams for the convenience of the devotees also deployed during festival days.

Contact Person: Delft Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary

Contact no: 0212215211