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Kandy Esala festival begins on July 9

At a recent media briefing at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, to announce the historical Kandy Esala Festival, the Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyeratne said that the festival begins with the Kap Situweema (Flag-staff hoisting) ceremony on July 9 and ends with the Day Perahera following the Diyakepeema (water cutting) ceremony in the wee hours of July 24.

As announced by the Diyawadana Nilame, the internal peraheras of the four devalas will be conducted till the 13th and the Kumbal Perahera will be conducted from the 14th till the 18th. Randoli Perahera will be conducted from 19th to 23rd.

He said that in view of the moves for peace in the country, an unprecedented crowd is expected during the festival season this year and that the media will be provided with free coverage facilities and that any organisation intending to live telecast the festival will have to obtain prior permission from the Maligawa.

Central Province DIG (West) Nimal Mediwaka said that in spite of the truce,special security and traffic arrangements will be made by deploying 3,000 police officers assisted by the Army.

Kandy District Secretary Sumana Bandara, the Basnayaka Nilames of the four devalas, R. M. Navaratne, Ranjith Ellegala, Mohan Panabokke and Rohan Paranagama, Central Region Army Commander Colonel Aruna Jayatilleke and Kandy ASP Kulasiri Udugampola attended the meeting.

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