The Annual Kelaniya Duruthu Perahera at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya which started yesterday is scheduled to continue today and tomorrow. The historical Kelaniya Duruthu Maha Perahera was first held in 1927 due largely to the efforts of philanthropist Don Walter Wijewardene, son of Helena Wijewardene Lamathani of Sedawatte.

This Perahera has evolved over the years to become the country’s most elaborate and grandest low country pageant in its category. Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya is the most sacred temple in the Western Province of Sri Lanka since the Buddha’s visit here during his P historic visit to Sri Lanka.

It celebrates this event annually in the “Duruthu Poya” during January by conducting a historic, traditional and cultural pageant, the “Kelani Perahera”. While the Kelani Perahera commemorates the religious significance of Lord Buddha’s visit.

The Perahera is organised under the guidance of Chief Priest of Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Venerable Professor Mahinda Sangarakkitta Nayaka Thera, and President of Dayaka Sabha, Dr. Saman Weerasinghe.

The Perahera will commence with the Chancellor of the Kelaniya University Agra Maha Panditha Ven Professor Kollupitiya Mahinda Sangharakkita Nayake Thera handing over the Sacred Relic Casket to Chief Basnayake Nilame Dhammika Attygalle. The sacred relic Perahera will be followed by three Devale Perahera’s of God Vibishana, God Kataragama and God Vishnu.

On 08th January, 2026, will be the Udamaluwe Perahera, 09th January will be the Sacred City Perahera, and 10th January will be the Grand Duruthu Maha Perahera. The Perahera will commence at 8.00 pm.

There will be a special enclosure for foreign tourists to view the Perahera.

Leader of the House and Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake yesterday told Parliament that the law enforcement authorities were now capable using mobile laboratories to detect up to 12 types of narcotic substances within three to four minutes.

Minister Rathnayake added that test results could be printed on the spot and issued directly to drivers.

He said stern legal action would be taken against all those who drove under the influece of alcohol or narcotics, and steps would be taken to provide the police with better facilities to tackle the problem of driving under the influece, one of the main causes of fatal road accidents.

University teachers, undergraduates, education professionals and school teacher trade unions yesterday called on the government to immediately suspend its proposed education reforms, warning that the programme was being pushed ahead without adequate consultation, resources or safeguards.

The demand was made at a series of media briefings and meetings held in Colombo, where representatives of academic unions, student unions and teachers’ organisations expressed concern over the content and implementation of the reforms.

Secretary of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA),

Senior Lecturer Charudatta Illangasinghe, told the media that the government should halt the reform process and initiate discussions with key stakeholders. He said the proposals currently being advanced differed from what Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya had outlined during earlier discussions with FUTA.

“We believe that this process should stop immediately. The proposed reforms do not reflect what the Prime Minister told us when we met her. We demand that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake intervene in this matter without delay,” Illangasinghe said.