Nuwara-Eliya District Secretary urges Sri Pada pilgrims to exercise caution

By Nalaka Rathnayake

District Secretary of Nuwara-Eliya, Nandana Galaboda, yesterday urged all pilgrims to adhere to COVID guidelines as the Sri Pada season begins today (18). The authorities expected a record number of people to visit Sri Pada and it could pose some challenges, he said.

Galaboda said that District Secretary of Ratnapura, Malani Lokupothagama, had issued a gazette extraordinary on this year’s Sri Pada season. The regulations on the gazette were valid till 16 May 2022, the end of the season.

“Pilgrims must bring with them their vaccination cards or photocopies of them.

Devotees can’t stay in the compound at the summit and they must wear masks and maintain physical distancing,” he said.

The District Secretary of Nuwara Eliya added that they would not allow the construction of any temporary structures on the way to the mountain top. “We will also take action against those who dispose of plastic along the way. Stern measures will be taken against those who sell cigarettes, alcohol or drugs to those who come to the peak. Those who consume such products too will be dealt with severely,” he said.

A number of shramadana initiatives will also take place during the Sri Pada season to ensure the sanitation and health of the devotees as well as minimising damage to the environment.

The DIG in charge of Nuwara Eliya S. Ranasinghe said that they had deployed over 300 policemen at Rathu-ambalama, Indikatupahana and Gangulatenna to ensure the safety of the devotees.