Easter services cancelled island wide

• Priests will conduct only private services without congregation
• Bishops will also hold private services in their dioceses
• No final decision yet from Anglican Church officials

By Yohan Perera  

Catholic and Anglican Holy week and Easter Sunday services which are scheduled to begin next week have been cancelled island wide because of COVID-19 spread, a spokesman from the Catholic Church said yesterday. 

 “Priests will conduct only private services without congregation, since they are bound by duty to conduct services. However, no one will be allowed to participate in any services,” the sources said.   

“Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith will hold the Holy Thursday service privately in the evening, while other Bishops will also hold private services in their dioceses. Accordingly, Bishop of Galle Rev. Raymond Wickramasinghe, Bishop of Badulla Rev. Winston Fernando and Bishop of Chilaw Rev. Valance Mendis will be holding services privately,” the sources further said. All these services will be telecast live, according church sources. Cardinal Ranjith’s Palm Sunday mass will be at 7.30 am, Holy Thursday service will be at 4.45 pm by both Cardinal Ranjith and Bishop Winston Fernando and Bishop Noel Emmanuel of Trincomalee while Good Friday services will be telecast at 3.00 pm. Holy Saturday services will be telecast at 10.00 pm. Meanwhile, a spokesman from the Anglican Church in Colombo told Daily Mirror that services would probably not conducted, given the prevailing situation. “We have not made the final decision yet, but we don’t think there would be any services for Easter week this year,” he said.

• All holy week, Good Friday and Easter services will be telecast live