In a poignant display of dissent, priests and Catholic faithful from the 04 Meesams of Pitipana stood in silent protest this morning (25) outside the Holy Karnikka Church in Negombo, Sri Lanka. Their silent demonstration was a resolute response to what they perceived as unwarranted accusations levelled against the Archbishop and the Catholic Church by a group of fishermen wielding considerable fishing authority.
At the heart of the matter lies a recent ruling by the Negombo District Court, which mandated the transfer of property administration and management of the Negombo Fishery Trade Center, known as Lellama, from the Pitipana United Fishermen’s Society to a trustee. This decision stemmed from a complaint filed by the Archbishop against officials of the Pitipana United Fishermen’s Society, further exacerbating tensions between the Catholic Church and the fishing community.
The fishermen, aggrieved by what they perceived as unfavourable actions by the Catholic Church, previously staged a protest outside the official residence of the Archbishop of Colombo. However, the Catholic Church maintained that their actions were aimed at ensuring the majority of fishermen benefit from the auction process, resorting to legal avenues to pursue their objectives.
Undeterred by these developments, priests representing the 04 Pitipana Mesams affiliated with the Catholic Church opted for a silent yet potent form of protest today. Displaying black flags and solemnly ringing church bells, they conveyed their discontent with the accusations hurled against their religious leadership.
Meanwhile, the fishermen embroiled in the legal dispute with the Catholic Bishop held a press conference today to counter the allegations leveled against them, reiterating their stance amidst the ongoing power struggle.
As tensions continue to simmer between the Catholic Church and the fishing community, the silent protest serves as a poignant reminder of the deep-seated divisions and complexities underlying this contentious issue.
