Defence Secretary Maj.Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, who visited the St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade, on Tuesday (1), has taken swift measures to strengthen security and also assured to complete the balance reconstruction work of the Shrine, which was badly damaged due to the Easter Sunday bomb attack, soon.

Following the request of Shrine’s Administrator Rev. Fr. K.A. Jude Raj Fernando to provide additional Police protection to the Shrine’s vicinity, Maj. Gen. Gunaratne had directed acting IGP Chandana Wickramaratne to strengthen security deploying additional policemen to the Jampettach Police Post to facilitate devotees.

“We, together with Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, would like to thank President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his personal interest and commitment for the security and development of the St. Anthony’s Shrine,” Rev.Fr. Fernando said.

The Defence Secretary, who inspected the reconstruction work, which has come to a standstill due to funding, has assured Rev.Fr. Fernando to assist to complete the balance work with the support of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN).