Uchchamuni Island’s women discover livelihood thanks to new church

We don’t want these people living on the island to be moved elsewhere. They have been living here for more than a century. The Bishop has already voiced his opposition against the resettlement of people elsewhere,”
Fr. Sampath Prasanna Perera 
Priest in charge of the church

The opening of the church is scheduled for July 23 2023 There are 180 families living in the Uchchamuni  Island at present Devotees from Velankani Church in South India are also expected to arrive for the opening of the new church

 More than a century ago sand started collecting in the sea off Kalpitiya. The fishermen in Kalpitiya soon noticed this phenomenon.  When large amounts of sand got collected and it resembled an island the fishermen used to stop their boats at this place when engaged in their livelihood. Thus it became known as Uchchamuni Island.

According to the villagers on the island some of their ancestors had kept a statue for religious purposes. Later a small chapel was built. This chapel has later become a larger church and is dedicated to Our Lady of Velankanni .
According to Fr. Sampath Prasanna Perera, the priest in change of the church, there are 180 families living in the island at present. The population in the island are Catholic. 

Fr. Sampath, while explaining the current situation especially with regard to the church, said that the villagers and others including the Bishop of Chillaw Rev. Valance Mendis had decided to construct a new church- larger in size- in the island. Work on the new church is almost complete and one can see the beautiful sight when arriving in the island on a boat. The church had been designed by a villager named Indika. When asked as to how he got the idea to design the church he maintained that it was divine help.

Fr, Sampath said that the opening of the church is scheduled for July 23 2023. “We expect priests and devotees from India for the grand opening. Devotees are also expected to arrive from Velankani Church in South India,” he said.

According to the priest most of the inhabitants in the island are fishermen and the women are housewives. However since the idea was generated to build a large new church an initiative has been taken to change the lives of some women in the island. Therefore some of the women had been trained in producing statutes and rosaries (an object which Catholics use for praying). The Daily Mirror was able to see women busy painting statues of Our Lady of Velankanni and others making rosaries. These are to be sold to visitors who are expected to attend the opening ceremony of the church. Also they expect to continue with this activity as their livelihood; given that there are expectations that the church would soon become a popular sight of worship.

Asked about the plan which the authorities had for some time to lease out the islands in Kalpitiya for the development of tourism Fr. Sampath said that the church is not against development of tourism. “But we don’t want these people living on the island to be moved elsewhere. They have been living here for more than a century. The Bishop has already voiced his opposition against the resettlement of people elsewhere,” Fr. Sampath said.

According to Fr. Sampath it is believed that Catholicism was spread in Kalpitya during the time of St. Francis Xaviour who happened to be a follower of St. Thomas an apostle of Jesus. The faith was revived by St. Joseph Vaz who was canonised in Colombo by Pope Francis in 2015. 

Women in the island are housewives, but with the idea to build a large new church growing they have been trained in producing statutes and rosaries Pics by Pradeep Pathirana