Good News to the inmates of Batticaloa Prison on Christmas Day

A Christmas Mass was conducted for the inmates of the Batticaloa Prison on 25.12.2011 in the premises of the Prison around 9.30 A.M. by Rt.Rev.Dr.Kingsley Swampillai, Bishop of Trincomalee-Batticaloa Diocese under the Social Justice and Sustainable Peace programme of Caritas EHED, Batticaloa – Kalmunai.
 Mr.S.Bandara, Superintendent of the Batticaloa Priaon with the other officials of the Prison received the Bishop on his arrival and led him to the place where the Mass was to be conducted. At the Mass, the Bishop was assisted by two Brothers attached to the St.Mary’s Co-Cathedral of Batticaloa. The Mass was attended by 305 detainees belonging to different faiths.

During the Mass His Lordship extended his Christmas Greetings and said the birth of Christ was the good news that was proclaimed to the whole world and he would also like to share the same good news with all those who were present at the Mass.  His Lordship also prayed for forgiveness of the sins of the detainees who had committed crimes knowingly or un-knowingly and said the prison was a temporary shelter for them and that they should rejoin their family members early to lead a normal life with them after their cases were heard and cleared. After the Mass, the Male detainees received X’Mas gifts and sweets from the Bishop followed with the presentation of gifts to the Female detainees in their section.

At the end of the programme the Bishop and his officials were entertained with Tea and refreshments by the Superintendent of the Prison and his officials in remembrance of  the Bishop’s Golden  jubilee  of Priesthood and Silver Jubilee of serving the lord as the Bisho of Trincomalee-Batticaloa Diocese.