The Sri Lanka Police have announced a special traffic management plan for the Annual Feast of the National Shrine of St. Anthony, Kochchikade, with the central Suruvama Perahera (Procession of the Sacred Relic) set to parade through the Colombo North Police Division on Saturday afternoon and evening.
The feast itself runs Friday and Saturday (June 12 and 13). The Suruvama Perahera will run from 2.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. on Saturday, with the relic procession commencing at 4.00 p.m. from St. Lucia’s Church, Kotahena and moving via Kotahena Street, Galpottha Roundabout, George R. De Silva Mawatha, Hettiyawatta Junction, Sri Ramanathan Mawatha and St. Anthony’s Mawatha to the National Shrine. The Divine Liturgy will be conducted at the Kochchikade Shrine at 5.00 p.m.
The procession is scheduled to recommence at 5.30 p.m. from the vicinity of St. Anthony’s Church, taking in St. Anthony’s Road, Jinthupitiya Roundabout, Jinthupitiya Street, Kadireshan Street, Andiwella Street, Brass Foundry Street, Hinni Appuhamy Road, Aluth Hetti Street and Jampettah Street before returning to the church premises.
From 2.30 p.m., access may be restricted on several feeder routes, including from Hettiyawatta Junction toward St. Anthony’s Church, from Jinthupitiya Roundabout toward St. Anthony’s Church, from China Street Junction via Reclamation Road toward Jinthupitiya, from Hetti Street and Aduruppu Street toward Andiwella Street, from Maha Vidyala Mawatha and the Clock Tower Roundabout toward Vivekananda Hill, and along several segments of George R. De Silva Mawatha toward Green Lane, Jampettah Street, Galpottha, Bodhiraja Mawatha and Sivananda Street.
Drivers travelling from Modara toward Pettah have been asked to take alternative routes around the procession area. The police asked motorists and devotees to plan ahead, follow officers’ instructions on the ground and use designated diversions to keep the procession moving smoothly.
Source: Ada Derana — Special traffic plan announced for annual feast of Shrine of St. Anthony, Kochchikade.
