Bishop of Kandy, His Lordship Bishop Valance Mendis, recently stressed the pivotal importance of providing quality education to children of those long suffering people of Kalpitiya peninsula, including those who live on the islands, if they are to protect their rights.

Bishop Mendis, who is also Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chilaw, said that English education should not be limited to the rich. Bishop Mendis highlighted the importance of valuebased education for which the Church is committed.

Bishop Mendis was addressing a gathering after the opening of a new branch of the John Paul II English Medium College, and blessing of the newly built Convent for the Sisters of Perpetual Help, on Feb. 10. The events coincided with Rev. Fr. Sampath Prasanga taking over the reins as the new Parish Priest of Kalpitiya.

Bishop Mendis said that social and environmental injustices couldn’t be successfully overcome without improving education. Referring to the daunting challenges, faced by the Kalpitiya population over the past few decades, Bishop Mendis pointed out how the coal-fired power plant, at Norochcholai, caused serious health issues. There were plans to sell some of the fisheries islands of Kalpitiya to foreign countries for tourism. Then, there was the corrupt garbage dumping project, at Aruwakkau, which was promoted by former governments, which became a severe environmental hazard, even to the people in Kalpitiya. In all those instances, the Church came forward to protect the rights of the people and, as a result, their right to life, and livelihood, in the islands, is protected today.

The Branch School of St. John Paul II College and the newly built Convent were blessed by Bishop Mendis.

The school building was constructed, under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Sampath Prasanga, who received appointment as its first principal.

The Procurator General of Chilaw Diocese, Rev. Fr. Nelson Samantha Fernando, saw to it that the Convent building was ready, to coincide with the opening of the School. The services of the Perpetual Help Sisters will be a blessing to Kalpitiya, the Bishop said.

The proceedings of the day was marked by the farewell accorded to Rev. Fr. Arosh Priyanga, the outgoing Parish Priest, and welcome to the new Parish Priest, which was held in the Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage, in Kalpitiya.

The Bishop appreciated the yeomen service rendered by Fr. Arosh to the people of Kalpitiya.

The Parish of Kalpitiya is now having three priests for the first time. Bishop Mendis said that they would serve 14 churches in Kalpitiya, which includes the 10 islands, namely, Battalangunduwa, Palliyawatta, Siinagunduwa, Karativu, Mohottuwarama, Utchimune, Palugahathurai, Pukkulam, Bottuwadiya and Keerimundel.

The Sunday Masses are celebrated in all the islands and one Priest resides in Battalangunduwa Island, from Friday to Monday, looking after their spiritual needs.

At the end of the ceremony, a short meeting was held with the representatives of the islands where they expressed their love and gratitude to the Rev. Fathers who serve them with love and generosity, bracing all challenges.