Army and Navy assist ‘Pada Yatra’ from Jaffna to Kataragama
August 01, 2022Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) continuing their long held practices and as Social Responsibility initiatives facilitates the devotees engaged in foot pilgrimage (Pada Yatra) from Jaffna to Kataragama.
The SLN said medical and lifesaving services are being provided to the pilgrims along the footpath extending from the Kumana National Park entrance to Kumbukkan Oya.
This year’s programme was initiated following the guidance of Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and the Commander South-eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Prasad Kariyapperuma has deployed naval personnel serving in area to facilitate the pilgrims.
According to the SLN thousands of pilgrims marching the stretch from Kumana to Kumbukkan Oya were facilitated.
Entryway of the Kumana National Park is open until Aug 05 for foot pilgrimage, the SLN further said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) contributing its part has extended its hospitality to these pilgrims to make their annual pilgrimage a success. Accordingly troops of 122 Brigade and 23 Gajaba Regiment of 12 Division under Security Force HQ- Central provided cooked food, drinking water, medical care and also temporary shelters for them to rest and resume their journey to Kataragama on foot.
Army troops made these arrangements following the directions of Commander, Security Forces, Central, Major General Samantha Silva and supervision of Major General Lanka Amarapala, General Officer Commanding, 12 Division.
A large number of pilgrims from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Pottuvil and Ampara areas are making this annual pilgrimage after the absence of three years due to COVID-19 restrictions.
