Kandy brimmed with crowd, filled with litter

The cascade of unexpectedly large crowds in view of the Dalada exposition (The exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic of The Buddha) has rendered the Kandy city administrative authorities handicapped, eventually prompting them to limit public arrivals.

Dalada Maligawa which houses the Tooth Relic can cope up with nearly 100,000 devotees a day. During the Dalada exposition, 65,000 people paid homage to the Tooth Relic on the first day, 113,000 on the second day, 131,000 on the third day, 141,000 on the fourth day, 89,000 on the fifth day and 85,000 on the sixth day.

However, the crowd management within the city limits outside the Dalada Maligawa premises lie with the Kandy district administrative authorities.

District Secretary Indika Udawatte told that nearly 300,000 people who arrived in the city from different areas were stationed in lines, and it was a difficult task to cater to the needs of such a large crowd on a single day.

“On normal days, people come and leave. But, now people stay overnight in the city these days,” he said.

The city streets were seen with litter strewn over, and people remain inconvenienced due to lack of sanitary facilities and janitorial services.

Central Province Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake said the arrival of devotees has been restricted in view of the large crowds already waiting in queues.

He said the devotees entering Kandy at several entry points would be turned away. He said the vehicles transporting devotees from the direction of Kurunegala, would be halted at Metibokka in Mawathagama, vehicles from the direction of Matale at Aluvihara, the vehicles from the direction of Mahiyangana at Hasalaka, those from the direction of Hanguranketa at Mailapitiya, those from the direction of Gampola at Weligalla, and those from Colombo at Mawanella.

He said if the pilgrims already waiting in queues could be managed relative to the time allowed, the police would make an announcement allowing more devotees to arrive.

He said a sticker would be issued to identify the devotees in queues and 150,000 stickers had been distributed by yesterday afternoon.

Asked about the reason for such a large influx of people, Ven. Godagama Mangala Thera who is a member of Asgiriya Karaka Sanga Sabha told  that the exposition was originally announced for ten days instead of 14 days as in the past, and it triggered a public rush. Also, he said the exposition is conducted for the first time in 16 years, and that is also another reason.

“People aged above 60 would have anticipated that this would be the last opportunity to pay homage to the Tooth Relic in their lifetime. As such, they would have rushed to Kandy to venerate the Tooth Relic,” he said. He added that the crowd was larger than anticipated.

A health official said that the Kandy Municipal Council, backed by the other nearby local authorities, said the daily solid waste collection by the municipal authorities increased by 15 tons.

“There are around 3000 Dansalas (free food stalls). People do not always dump their food wastes into bins we have arranged. Municipal labourers have to struggle hard to collect wastes dumped elsewhere,” he said.