Tamil Nadu fishermen attend a church festival at Kachchativu in Sri Lanka
March 1st, 2010 - 12:32 pm ICT by ANIChennai, Mar 1 (ANI): Tamil Nadu fishermen participated in a festival at St Anthony’s Church on Kachchativu island in Indian Ocean, which was at one time a stronghold of the now defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Around 3,000 fishermen sailed from Rameshwaram to Kachchativu to take part in the festival after a gap of nearly three decades as restrictions had been imposed after the Eelam war in territorial waters of India and Sri Lanka.
Arokyaraj, a fisherman at Kachchativu prior to setting sail for Rameshwaram said, “After very long time, this church festival was held with the permission from both the governments (Indian and Sri Lankan). Such initiatives need to continue.”
“After very long time Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan Tamils jointly celebrated the church festival. We felt very happy,” added Arokyaraj.
Sri Lankan army defeated the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels May last year bringing to an end 25 years of civil war.
The island was ceded to Sri Lanka as part of a maritime boundary agreement in 1974 by the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The annual festival at the famous St Anthony’s Church had come to an end after the 1983 ethnic war. (ANI)
- Tamil Nadu fishermen sail out for Sri Lankan festival - Feb 28, 2010
- Sri Lankan Tamils must live dignified lives: Jayalalithaa - Jun 14, 2011
- Will get Sri Lankan Tamils their rights: Jayalalithaa - Aug 11, 2011
- Tamil Nadu fishermen's team to visit Sri Lanka March - Feb 26, 2011
- Indian MPs slam Sri Lanka for 'war crimes' (Lead) - Aug 25, 2011
- MDMK leader goes on hunger strike protesting against fishermen killings - Feb 06, 2011
- Only Colombo can resolve Tamil problems: Malaysian MPs - Nov 29, 2011
- India, Sri Lanka agree to avoid use of force against fishermen - Mar 29, 2011
- DMK for new pact with Colombo over Katchathivu - Feb 03, 2011
- Human rights body protests atrocities on Lankan Tamils - Apr 05, 2012
- Attacks on Indian fishermen has fallen, says Krishna - Aug 11, 2010
- Indian fishermen to be freed soon: Sri Lanka - Jun 23, 2011
- Jayalalithaa seeks PM's help to free fishermen (Lead) - Jun 21, 2011
- India wanted LTTE 'put in its place': Norway report - Nov 11, 2011
- Sri Lanka envoy apologises to Indian MPs - Mar 15, 2012
Tags: boundary agreement, eelam war, ethnic war, indian prime minister, indian prime minister indira, indian tamils, indira gandhi, liberation tigers of tamil eelam, liberation tigers of tamil eelam ltte, ltte rebels, maritime boundary, prime minister indira, rameshwaram, separatist liberation tigers, setting sail, sri lankan army, sri lankan tamils, st anthony, territorial waters, three decades