According to Sri Lanka Guardian, authorities facilitated the maritime transport of attendees and coordinated security and immigration control measures to ensure the orderly conduct of the celebration.
The festivities include solemn masses, collective prayers, and devotional acts in honor of St. Anthony, considered the protector of fishermen and sailors, a figure of special significance for the coastal communities of both countries.
The annual gathering also provides a space for cultural exchange between citizens of Sri Lanka and the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, strengthening historical and religious ties in the Palk Strait.
Church authorities emphasized the peaceful and spiritual nature of the event, which reaffirms bilateral cooperation around this shared tradition each year.
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