At the request of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, it has been announced that the special Dalada festival will be open to the general public from April 18 to 27.
The festival is scheduled to be held from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM on April 18, and from 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM daily from April 19 to 27.
A preliminary discussion regarding the event took place today (March 2) at the President’s House in Kandy, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Expressing gratitude to the Mahanayake Theros for providing this opportunity to the Buddhist community after 16 years, the President emphasized that it is a long-held aspiration for many Buddhist people in the country to have the chance to worship the Tooth Relic at some point in their lives.
He also expressed his hope that this event will contribute to the revival of the country’s diminishing civilization and inspire a religious and cultural renewal.
The President further highlighted the significance of organizing such events to promote a Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka. He is confident that the Dalada festival, being held as part of the New Year celebrations, will steer the country in a new direction.
The President expressed his belief that hundreds of thousands of people will attend the festival, and stressed that it is the shared responsibility of everyone to ensure they have the opportunity to worship the Tooth Relic without any hindrances. He assured that the government would provide maximum support and intervention to facilitate this.
Discussions focused on ensuring that the public, who will join the event in three queues, will be given an opportunity to worship the Tooth Relic during the special Dalada festival.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to follow the guidelines provided by the Mahanayake Theros to ensure the safety of both the Tooth Relic and the public.
A proposal was made to grant school holidays in the Kandy area during the exhibition of the Tooth Relic while keeping schools open on other days to continue the education of children.
The discussion also centered around addressing the sanitary facilities and waste management for the large number of devotees expected to visit. A traffic plan will also be implemented during the event.
Additionally, there were discussions about ensuring the provision of clean drinking water, health services, and other essential facilities for attendees. A registration process will also be introduced for those wishing to organize Dansalas (free food distribution) to provide meals to the worshippers.
The importance of carrying out decorations that promote Buddhist enthusiasm and educating the public about the special Dalada festival was also a key focus of the discussion.
The meeting was attended by the Maha Sangha, led by the Malwatta and Asgiri Anunayake Theros, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha, as well as other parliamentarians and ministers. The Governor of the Central Province, Professor S.B.S. Abhayakoon, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, Heads of Line Institutions, and senior officers from the Tri-Forces and Police also participated in the discussion.
