Colombo, July 27: A deadly threat stemming from the rivalry between two underworld gangs has forced the cancellation of a key ritual in Sri Lanka’s centuries-old annual religious pageant at a revered ancient Hindu temple in the island nation, police said on Monday. The week-long Esala perahera (pageant) at the Uthpalawanna Sri Vishnu temple in the coastal town of Devinuwara, which began on July 23, will not feature the traditional Kavadi dance on Tuesday following intelligence warnings.
Police have directed the Matara district secretary, the chief government administrator of the district, to cancel the Kavadi ritual over security concerns.
The Devinuwara Esala pageant, which dates back to the 13th century, is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most significant religious and cultural festivals held in honour of Lord Vishnu, regarded as one of the guardian deities of the island. The threat stemmed from an ongoing feud between fugitive drug kingpins Shehan Sathsara and Kanjipani Imran, both believed to be operating from overseas, police said. Authorities said the rivals had issued threats over the phone.
According to sources, people believed to be followers of Sathsara were awarded this year’s contract to perform the Kavadi ritual instead of those linked to Imran, intensifying tensions between the two groups.(PTI)
