The 113th annual feast of Our Lady of Matara will be celebrated on September 6.
The flagstaff will be hoisted on August 30 at 4 p.m. The Rosary will be recited on August 31 at 4.30 p.m. followed by Holy Mass and Novena. The Vicar General of the Galle diocese Fr. Charles Hewawasam will preside at the Holy Hour and Benediction on September 4 at 4.30 p.m.
Vespers will be held on Saturday, September 5 at 4.15 p.m. followed by the Marians procession with the miraculous statue presided over by the Bishop of Kurunegala, Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera.
The Bishop of Galle Rev. Dr. Raymond Wickramasinghe will officiate at the Festive High Mass on Sunday, September 6 at 8 a.m.
The Administrator of the shrine, Fr. Michael Colin Nixon said the feast will be celebrated this year under the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry. There will be no special trains from Chilaw (Bangadeniya) to Matara and there will be no accommodation for pilgrims in schools, he said.