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St Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya reopens
Three months after the terrorist attack on Christian churches and leading hotels, which falls today, the institutions are slowly limping back to normalcy. To mark the day, the catholic churches and hotels have planned remembrance services. The Ministry of Housing and Cultural Affairs is to handover St Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya back to the Archdiocese, after completing renovation.
Renovated St Sebastian's Church Pic by Amila Gamage
Minister Sajith Premadasa will officially handover the church, following which, the Parish has organised a Mass at 8 am. This will be followed by a service to consecrate the church. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and two other bishops will officiate at the ceremony.
Parish priest Fr Manjula Niroshan Fernando said monuments with names of the 114 people who died in the blast will be unveiled by the Cardinal. Afterwards a visit will be made to the cemeteries at Sellakanda and Davidwatte. A foundation stone will be laid for the construction of a building for the Sunday School, and scholarships granted to children.
The church will offer a noon alms giving for 3,000 people. Food preparation is by the tri-forces. The church plans to give 28 houses to victims. Around 140 perches of land has been bought by the church, and plans have been drawn up to build the houses.
St Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade will mark the three-month remembrance with a Mass at 7.30 am and candle lighting event. An alms giving on a small scale will take place.
The Zion Church in Batticoloa said that they will not hold any memorial service. Pastor Roshan Mahesan said the church doctrine believes in moving on. He said that the situation is returning to normal with the faithful following service every Sunday and attending all church activities.
However, he said the renovation of the church had not been completed and was taking time, during which time they have to operate on rented premises.
Meanwhile, the Office of Reparation (OoR) of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs published a statement on the compensation paid to victims. The OoR paid a total of Rs265,787,500 for the 201 dead and 442 injured in the blasts. Of this, families of the dead received Rs199,350,000 and the injured Rs66,437,500.
In a further breakdown, at St Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya, families of the 106 dead received Rs105,400,000 and 265 injured received Rs38,662,500. At St Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade, families of 46 dead received Rs45,550,000 and 74 injured received Rs10,150,000. At the Batticoloa Zion Church, families of the 29 dead received Rs28,700,000 and 73 injured received Rs12,600,000.
There were 10 deaths and 34 injured at Shangri La, of which, families of 7 dead were paid Rs6.9 million and 10 injured persons were paid Rs2.1 million. Cinnamon Grand reported 7 dead and 20 injured – Rs7 million was paid to the dead and Rs1.7 million to 10 injured. The Kingsbury, the family of one person dead received Rs1 million and 6 injured were paid Rs1.025 million.
The damaged churches of Katuwapitiya and Kochchikade were allocated Rs10 million each with Rs5 million allocation for the Batticoloa church.
Meanwhile, Seth Sarana (SS) of the Archdiocese of Colombo has provided for children, parents and relatives of 168 people who lost their lives in the incident, a sum of Rs16.8 million. Also, 356 injured persons received Rs17.8 million for their medical expenses. Rs17 million was provided for educational assistance and social wellbeing of 354 affected families. Another Rs17 million has been spent on welfare projects. The Archdiocese has given a sum of Rs1 million to the Zion Church in Batticoloa.
The Archdiocese’s accounts show several relief measures to aid the affected. A sum of Rs53.1 million has been allocated to buy land and construct houses for families, Rs35.2 million worth of relief funds for daily living expenses of victims, Rs30.3 million for the livelihood of low-income families, Rs32 million for the disabled and those continuing to receive medical care, and Rs102.5 million towards the education of affected children.
In addition, Rs8 million has been allocated for religious and spiritual upliftment projects and another Rs8 million for psychological counselling, along with Rs20 million allocation for any emergencies and special assistance that may arise.