Sri Lankan children look on as navy boats search the waters off Katukurunda along the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka on Feb. 19, after a boat carrying Catholic pilgrims capsized, drowning 15 people. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP)
A top Sri Lankan church official has announced new stringent regulations in response to a religious procession that resulted in fatalities off the coast of the island nation's Western Province.
Some 15 people were killed and 33 hospitalized after an overloaded trawler carrying Catholic pilgrims from the parish of Beruwela, Kalutara District, capsized in deep seas Feb. 19. The just completed police investigation said that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets.
Some 20 decorated boats had sailed with the statue of Our Lady of Good Voyage from the shores of Beruwela as part of the annual parish feast.
"We have the freedom to organize religious processions connected to our churches and shrines but we must ensure no harm to human life," Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo said following the completion of the police investigations and after himself appointing a committee to come up with recommendations regarding Catholics using boat processions at sea for religious festivals.
Such processions must be "registered and approved" by the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of Coast conservation, the Sri Lanka Navy as well as the police, he said via a statement.
The cardinal said each boat should be steered by a skipper who is "experienced and qualified," should only carry the "number of persons authorized" and that all passengers should wear life jackets.
"It is important after completing all these inspections to obtain written permission from me, the regional bishop or the episcopal vicar before such processions are organized," said Cardinal Ranjith.
He added, these rules are the responsibility of every bishop, priest, religious and lay person.
Other regulations listed by the Colombo cardinal include ensuring "a team of life savers" be on hand and removing all fishing equipment before the procession.
Father Shiran Dassa, the parish priest of Our Lady of Good Voyage at Duwa in Negombo, Western Province, said they conducted a similar procession at sea with the help of the navy July 16.
"People on the procession wore life jackets and they avoided [taking] women and children on the boats," said Father Dassa who organized the feast.
"We made sure to follow the rules and regulations of the archbishop," the priest said.
In the Feb. 19 tragedy, the decorated boats had sailed with the statue of Our Lady of Good Voyage from the shores of Beruwela even as warnings of 80kph winds were broadcast.
Navy divers, air force helicopters and volunteer fishermen helped with a rescue operation that was impeded by heavy winds and rain. Despite the adverse conditions, they rescued many pilgrims.