Sri Lanka Police have announced a special security and traffic plan for the fourth Randoli Perahera of the Kandy Esala Perahera, which takes to the streets on Wednesday evening.
The procession leaves the Sri Dalada Maligawa at the auspicious time of 6.44 p.m., Ada Derana reported. Police said the arrangements cover roadblocks, security duties, vehicle and individual inspections, tourist guidance and designated parking.
A longer route than the Kumbal nights
The Perahera will proceed along Dalada Veediya, Yatinuwara Veediya, Cross Street, Kotugodella Veediya, Kande Veediya, D.S. Senanayake Veediya and Raja Veediya before returning to the temple.
That is a markedly wider circuit than the Kumbal phase of the festival: the fourth Kumbal Perahera on August 21 covered three streets over 1 kilometre and 270 metres. The Randoli processions, which carry the palanquins of the four devales, are the grander second phase of the pageant and draw the largest crowds.
Alternative routes
- Heavy vehicles from Katugastota towards Kandy: via Tilak Ratnayake Mawatha, through Mahaiyawa Junction and Police Junction.
- Light vehicles from Katugastota: via D.S. Senanayake Veediya, Cross Street and Yatinuwara Veediya, then joining Tilak Ratnayake Mawatha.
- Kandy towards Katugastota: via Tilak Ratnayake Mawatha through Police Junction.
- From Tennekumbura and Ampitiya: along Sangaraja Mawatha towards Wales Park Junction, then Ehelepola Kumarihami Mawatha for Bogambara and the railway station.
- Kandy towards Ampitiya and Teldeniya: from the Clock Tower roundabout along Dalada Veediya, past the Queen’s Hotel side entrance, continuing on Sangaraja Mawatha.
- An alternative to Ampitiya and Tennekumbura runs via Ehelepola Kumarihami Mawatha, Rajapihilla Mawatha, Wales Park Junction and Sangaraja Mawatha.
- Mosque Road has been divided to allow traffic in both directions.
- William Gopallawa Mawatha and the Old Peradeniya Road remain open in both directions for Colombo–Kandy traffic.
Police urged motorists to follow the temporary arrangements and cooperate with officers deployed along the route.
Update: the procession went ahead on schedule
The fourth Randoli Perahera left the Sri Dalada Maligawa at the appointed 6.44 p.m. on Wednesday evening, Ada Derana reported as the procession was parading.
The honour of carrying the Sacred Relic Casket went to the tusker Ada Derana named as “Kadira Pura Wasana” — Kadirapura being an alternative name for Kataragama. The Sri Dalada Maligawa’s own account of the first Randoli Perahera on August 23 named that night’s bearer as “Kataragama Wasana,” flanked by Pulathisiraja and Sinharaja, which would make Wednesday’s tusker a returning casket bearer.
Repeat duty is not unusual this festival: Sinha Raja carried the casket on both the second and third Randoli nights.
Where the festival stands
The pageant began with the first Kumbal Perahera on August 18 and runs until August 28. The final Randoli Perahera parades on Thursday, August 27, and the traditional water-cutting ceremony follows on Friday, August 28. Hiru News reported that the third Randoli Perahera paraded on Tuesday night.
Police announced a festival-wide security plan on August 14 involving close to 8,000 personnel, with roadblocks at 14 entry points and 13 designated parking areas. Liquor shops across the Kandy Kadawatha Satara and Gangawata Korala divisions are closed for the duration.
Ada Derana rendered the Katugastota bypass street as “Tilak Ratnayake Mawatha”; the same outlet has also spelled it “Thilak” during this festival.
