Christian Perspectives

Annual feast of Wahakotte Church

The annual feast of historic Wahakotte church this year was held on June 16 and 17 with a festive high mass celebrated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kandy.

This historic St. Anthony's Church is situated in Udugoda Pallesiya Pattuwa to the North-West of Matale district, four miles south of Galewela town on Galewala – Matale main road. It is about 140 km from Colombo, Kurunegala – Galewela and Wahakotte. From Kandy it is 55km via Matale Palapathwela and Wahakotte. From Negombo through Kurunegala – Galewela to Wahakotte it is 130 km.

History

Wahakotte was once known as “Wasala Kotte” castle in the fort and it is believed that there was a palace and a fort where the present church is situated. The other legend says that “Waha” (poison) “Kotte” (Pillow) meaning poisonous pillow because a queen had committed suicide after she heard that her husband, the king's death at war.

It is also recorded that king Dutugemunu defeated King Elara in 154 BC and had built a small fortress at Wahakotte. One can see the ruins of this fortress even today on a Rockey – hill called “Maligatenna” Palace field. Wahakotte was once a prosperous town with all facilities. The Dambulla Rock temple too can be seen to the North of Maligatenna for ramparts a deep moat and thoroughfares where sub kings ruled. The Ceylon Almanac (1834 page 204) records that there were ruins of “Rangalle Nuwara” and a Hindu Kovil - “Pattini Dewalaya” in the wood close by.

It was also recorded that the first Christian monarch Yamasinghe adopted son of Karalliyadda Bandara, who later became Don Phillip after becoming a Christian in Goa India) was received by some rebels from Kandy and was crowned at Wahakotte by the Portuguese.

It is also recorded that Don Francisco Wijekoon, who organized the Kandyan rebels too was present on this occation (Pieris PE Colombo 1914 page 249).

King Rajasinghe of the Kandyan Kingdom who fought against the Portuguese, captured some rebels and made them settle down in Wahakotte. These captured people earned their living by doing cultivation, trade and women sewing dresses for women and men sewing for men (Robert Knox page 248).

When the Dutch captured the areas that were under the Portuguese rule, they confiscated all Catholic institutions, churches, schools and other religious places while chasing away the Catholic preists and banned all religious activities.

Visit of Rev. Fr. Joseph Vaz

When Rev. Fr. Joseph Vaz visited Sri Lanka from India, disguised as a labourer, the people of Wahakotte had built a little hut on a small hill for Fr. Joseph Vaz, which is still venerated by Catholics.

When king Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe gave permission to Catholics to perform religious activities and freedom of worship. The king as a token of good will gave back the statue of St. Anthony which was plundered from a church in will Kandy during the reign of his brother-in-law Vijaya Rajasinghe to the Catholics of Wahakotte.

Once there was a severe drought around Wahakotte and the poor people suffered a lot. The Catholics of Wahakotte prayed under this sacred statue of St. Anthony and the rain came pouring down to the call of their innocent prayer. The Catholics and Buddhists had organized a perahera to mark this wonderful miracle.

Legend

There is also an interesting legend about this sacred statue of St. Anthony. Some enemies had destroyed the great church and plundered all the valuable things in this church but not the statue. The villagers had somehow hidden this statue made of wood only six inches in height in a rice pot and were able to save it from the enemies.

The Catholics of Wahakotte faced innumerable harassments from the Dutch during this period so the Catholics of Wahakotte had erected a place of worship in a secret place during the time of Fr. Joseph Vaz and it looked like a cattle shed during the day time but in the night it became a prayer room.

During the Wahakotte feast celebrations the statue of St. Anthony is taken in a procession to the sacred place and in holy prayer the Catholics pay homage to Rev. Fr. Joseph Vaz.

This historic festival portrays the story of Catholics who without any support from any organized clergy had maintained the Catholic faith for over 200 years in a purely non Catholic surrounding.

The parish priest of Wahakotte church Rev. Fr. Yovan Sawarimuttu said that Buddhist, Hindus and Muslims in the area help Catholics and specially the Buddhist monks from temples around Wahakotte always help to make this religious festival a success. He further said that this year there will be more pilgrims from North and East.

They requested the pilgrims to refrain from bringing unnecessary things with them as the church authorities intend to celebrate this holy feast in a simple and devout manner and pray for peace and harmony to our mother Lanka!

Richard Basnayake Matale

History of the Left movement and Catholic community in Sri Lanka

Generally speaking Marxism and Catholic concepts are antagonistic to each other. Nevertheless Marxism or the Left Movement gained ground among the Catholic community.

The first centre of the Left movement in Sri Lanka was Negombo where the majority of inhabitants are Catholics. It is called the ‘Little Rome.’

Now the story how the Left movement spread among the Catholic Community is presented in book-form. It is written by former High Court Judge W.T.A. Leslie Fernando who is a veteran writer both in Sinhala and English. He has several qualifications for it.

He is also a devout Catholic. The most significant qualification is that he is the son of Santiago Fernando who formed the branch of the LSSP in Negombo, the first Leftist party in Sri Lanka.

He was assisted in this task by Dr. Hector Fernando who once became the first Marxist MP for Negombo.

The book reveals the struggles the duo had to undergo, victimization they had to suffer and praise they won. They were also a part and parcel of the author as well.

The articles in the book were first published as a series of articles in the Divayina – Desapalanaye Methek Katawa. Now it is published in book form.

It would be an attraction to all those who are interested in the history of the Leftist Movement in Sri Lanka and also others interested in the recent history of the country.

Piyadasa Pitigala

Christian unity Pentecost rally

The Christian unity Pentecost rally was held on June 9 at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour. Among those who spoke was the Catholic Bishop of Mannar Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph, the Anglican Bishop of Colombo the Rt. Rev. Diloraj Canagesabey and Rev. Dr. Colton Wickramaratne who spoke on behalf of the evangelical community. Picture shows the cultural troupe of the Kithu Dana Pubuduwa, the Catholic Revival Movement performing at the rally.