Indian boycott undermines St.Anthony’s feast in Kachchatheevu
The annual feast of St. Anthony was celebrated at the Sri Lankan islet of Kachchatheevu, with many Sri Lankan devotees attending, but it was boycotted by Indian fisherfolk in protest against the arrest of Indian fishermen for poaching.
However, a few Indian High Commission officials attended the event, while about five thousand local devotees attended the festive mass. Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake was among those present.
The absence of Indian devotees resulted in reduced trading activities, which usually take place on a large scale.
On February 3, Kayts Magistrate's Court handed in a six-month jail term for two skippers of Indian mechanised bottom trawlers in addition to one-year imprisonment suspended for five years for engaging in illegal bottom trawling in Lankan waters.
Another Indian fisherman who was taken into custody for the second time was given a one-year jail term for committing repeated offences, while another 20 fishermen were released after being imposed 18-month jail terms suspended for five years, leading to Tamil Nadu’s Rameshwaram fisher folk threatening to boycott the feast last week.
Indian media reports said that fishing associations in Rameswaram had called for a boycott of the feast. Fishermen had hoisted black flags on their boats and staged a 10-kilometre protest last Sunday from Rameswaram to Pamban.
Furthermore, several Indian pilgrims from various states were reportedly left disappointed upon arriving in Tamil Nadu, as they were unaware of the decision to boycott the feast.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times learns that Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda discussed with Indian High Commission officials on Friday the arrest of the Indian fishermen. Further talks will be held tomorrow.