Fr. Packiyaranjit's funeral held in Mannaar
[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 September 2007, 17:05 GMT]
The funeral of Rev.Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjit, who was killed in a claymore explosion in Mallaavi in LTTE controlled area on Wednesday, was held Saturday afternoon at Mannaar cemetery with large number of people attending. Earlier the body was kept at Bishop House and at St.Sebastian Cathedral for public to pay their homage for the popular priest known for his humanitarian work.
Mannaar Bishop Rayappu Joseph held the final mass; Anuradhapura bishop Don Norbert Andrade and Parish Priests in Mannaar district participated. Vanni district TNA parliamentarians Selvam Adaikalanathan, Kishore Sivanathan, and Sivasakthi Anandan, UNP parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, Mannaar Government Agent and other officials attended the funeral along with several other religious dignitaries. Mannaar police officials also were present. Representatives of non-government organizations also participated. Mannaar town came to a standstill with shops closed. Private sector bus service came to a halt. Fishermen did not go to sea as a mark of respect to the priest.
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