A tragic incident has marred the annual pilgrimage to the Sri Dalada Viharaya in Kandy, as a man who had been waiting in a queue for several days died of a sudden heart attack.
The deceased, whose identity has not yet been released, had reportedly endured long hours of waiting under difficult conditions before collapsing, according to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sudath Masinghe, who oversees the Kandy and Matale districts.
The incident comes amid growing unrest and overcrowding at the temple, which has seen a massive influx of devotees in recent days. With queues stretching for kilometers and some people waiting for up to three days, tensions have flared, leading to several clashes among pilgrims.
In response, the Sri Lanka Army has been deployed to assist police in managing the increasingly volatile situation. DIG Masinghe, speaking at a joint press briefing alongside Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake, detailed the extraordinary challenges law enforcement has faced in recent days.
“Last night, around 1 a.m., crowds spilled over from multiple roads including Kurunegala, Matale, Ampitiya, and Madawala, creating a massive human jam near Katugastota,” Masinghe said. A particularly dangerous moment came when two dozen people were found on the abandoned iron bridge in old Katugastota, which authorities feared could collapse under the weight.
The Road Development Authority (RDA) issued an urgent evacuation order, prompting authorities to take swift action. “Had we not acted quickly, we could have seen a major disaster,” Masinghe stated. Despite resistance from the public, additional troops were called in to safely remove those on the bridge.
The situation deteriorated further as tensions rose again after nightfall, when evacuees moved forward in search of basic facilities like toilets, sparking renewed conflicts.
Currently, the Police, Special Task Force (STF), and the Army are working round the clock to maintain peace and prevent further violence.
Authorities have urged the public not to visit the Dalada Viharaya today or tomorrow, emphasizing that the existing crowd is already beyond safe capacity. “We are not looking to use force against the devotees,” Masinghe said, appealing for public cooperation during this difficult time.
Leave a comment