Authorities have requested the public to temporarily refrain from visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy due to the overwhelming number of devotees currently in attendance.
Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatte made the announcement during a special media briefing held today (April 24), emphasizing that further increases in crowds may lead to serious challenges in terms of crowd management, public safety, and health risks.
This follows a similar appeal issued by the Sri Lanka Police on April 23, advising the public to avoid visiting the Temple on April 24 and 25. Police noted that over 400,000 devotees are already queued to pay homage, and additional arrivals could result in people being unable to complete their veneration.
Given that a significant number of devotees have already gathered for the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Police reiterated their call for the public to consider visiting on alternate dates to ensure a safe and orderly environment.
The ongoing exposition, known as ‘Siri Dalada Wandanawa’, began on April 18 and has now entered its seventh day. It is scheduled to continue until Sunday, April 27.
