The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on Sunday dismissed reports that it planned to build a naval facility on the Katchatheevu islet, which was ceded by India to Sri Lanka during the June 1974 bilateral agreement.
Talking to The Hindu, SLN Commander Vice-Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne termed “baseless” the reports that the Navy had planned to install a detachment on the islet. “Our role in the proposed construction of a new shrine at St. Anthony’s church has been blown out of proportion,” the Commander added.
The Commander’s attention was drawn to observations of the official spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in the Indian government, Vikas Swarup, a few days ago that the Indian High Commission had been asked to provide more details on the reports and the move to build a shrine without informing India.
Recounting how the Navy got involved in the construction of the shrine for which the foundation stone was laid a week ago, the Vice Admiral Wijegunaratne explained that when the annual two-day Katchatheevu festival took place in February this year, the help of the Navy was sought by both the Diocese of Jaffna and visiting Indian pilgrims, mostly fishermen, for putting up a new shrine as the existing one was too small to accommodate the pilgrims and it was very old.
The Hindu
-Agencies
