Special traffic plan announced for annual feast of Shrine of St. Anthony, Kochchikade

The Annual Feast of the National Shrine of St. Anthony, Kochchikade, is scheduled for today (12) and tomorrow (13).

In conjunction with the feast, the Suruvama Perahera (Procession of the Sacred Relic) will parade through roads within the Colombo North Police Division from 2.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. tomorrow (13), Sri Lanka Police announced.

Accordingly, a special traffic management plan will be implemented in the area on tomorrow to facilitate the religious event and ensure the smooth movement of devotees and motorists.

The procession carrying the Sacred Relic of Saint Anthony will commence from St. Lucia's Church, Kotahena, at 4.00 p.m. tomorrow and proceed along the following route:

• Kotahena Street
• Galpottha Roundabout
• George R. De Silva Mawatha
• Hettiyawatta Junction
• Sri Ramanathan Mawatha
• St. Anthony's Mawatha

The procession is scheduled to arrive at the National Shrine of St. Anthony, Kochchikade, where the Divine Liturgy will be conducted at 5.00 p.m.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the procession will recommence at 5.30 p.m. from the vicinity of St. Anthony's Church and proceed along:

• St. Anthony's Road
• Jinthupitiya Roundabout
• Jinthupitiya Street
• Kadireshan Street
• Andiwella Street
• Brass Foundry Street
• Jinthupitiya Street
• Hinni Appuhamy Road
• Aluth Hetti Street
• Jampettah Street

Thereafter, the procession will return to the church premises, the statement said.

Temporary Traffic Restrictions

In view of the procession, vehicular access to the following roads may be restricted from 2.30 p.m. onwards:

• From Hettiyawatta Junction towards St. Anthony's Church
• From Jinthupitiya Roundabout towards St. Anthony's Church
• From China Street Junction via Reclamation Road towards Jinthupitiya
• From Hetti Street towards Andiwella Street
• From Aduruppu Street towards Andiwella Street
• From Aduruppu Street towards Vivekananda Hill
• From Maha Vidyala Mawatha Clock Tower Roundabout towards Vivekananda
Hill
• From Maha Vidyala Mawatha towards Aluth Hetti Street
• From Maha Vidyala Mawatha towards Sanghamitta Mawatha
• From George R. De Silva Mawatha towards Green Lane
• From George R. De Silva Mawatha towards Jampettah Street
• From Sanghamitta Mawatha towards Jampettah Street
• From George R. De Silva Mawatha towards Galpottha
• From George R. De Silva Mawatha towards Bodhiraja Mawatha
• From George R. De Silva Mawatha towards Sivananda Street
• From George R. De Silva Mawatha towards Jampettah Mawatha

Alternative Routes

For vehicles travelling from Modara towards Pettah:

• At Hettiyawatta Junction, turn left onto George R. De Silva Mawatha and
proceed via Armar Barber Junction.

For vehicles travelling from Pettah towards Modara:

• Proceed via China Street, Main Street, Gaspaha Junction, Aduruppu Street (Sri
Rathanajothi Saravanamuthu Mawatha), Maha Vidyala Mawatha, Clock Tower
Roundabout, Maha Vidyala Mawatha, and Armar Barber Junction.

Designated Parking Areas

The following parking locations have been allocated for devotees and motorists:

• Jinthupitiya Church Parking Area
• Gold Market Parking Area
• Reclamation Road Parking Area
• George R. De Silva Mawatha Parking Area
• Bloemendhal Road Parking Area
• Aluth Mawatha Parking Area (from Hettiyawatta Junction to Ibbage Watta
Junction)

Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Police has requested motorists and the general public travelling through the above areas tomorrow to comply with the special traffic arrangements and cooperate with police officers on duty to ensure the smooth conduct of the religious festival.