The Sri Lanka Police have issued an urgent appeal to the public, requesting devotees to refrain from traveling to Kandy on April 24 and 25 to attend the ‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’, the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic).
In a statement released today, police officials revealed that over 300,000 devotees have already gathered at the historic temple, causing significant overcrowding. Authorities fear that further influx of pilgrims could lead to safety concerns and logistical challenges.
“If the crowd continues to increase over the next two days, it may not be possible for new devotees to gain access to the temple premises or view the Sacred Relic,” the statement said.
To ensure public safety and manage crowd control, the Police have strongly urged the public to postpone visits planned for Thursday (24) and Friday (25). They further advised those who have not yet commenced travel to make alternate plans to avoid potential inconvenience or disappointment.
The ‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’ is a rare and deeply revered event in Sri Lanka’s Buddhist calendar, attracting tens of thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad.
