During my last trip to Sri Lanka, I spent some time visiting with my friend, Dottie, Sir Arthur C Clarke’s personal secretary.  I got to know Dottie during my travels to Sri Lanka decades ago and we have kept up our friendship and correspondence over the years; it was nice to reconnect in person for a few days.<\/p>\n

Dottie is a devout Roman Catholic and wanted to visit the Catholic churches in eastern Sri Lanka, which gave me the opportunity to see places and observe religious customs I otherwise might not have.  One of these places was the Cathedral of St. Mary in the small city of Batticaloa, an old church dating to 1808.<\/p>\n

The church is simple but nicely maintained.  I was especially impressed by the lovely entry doors and the wrought iron decorations on all of the windows.  It was a quiet meditative place, as such sanctuaries should be.<\/p>\n

It being Easter week, the church was being decorated for this important Christian Holiday.  This included a mock-up of the cross in the outside yard, and within a side chapel of the church sat a transparent coffin containing a mannequin of Jesus (symbolically awaiting resurrection on Easter Sunday).  The local citizens were very devout, praying beside this icon. <\/p>\n

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