Plastic bottles of water, cigars prohibited en route to Sripada

By Ranjith Rajapakse and Shantha ChAndrasiri  

The Sripada Pilgrim Season 2024/25 will commence on Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day on December 14 after taking out the caskets of sacred relics, the statues of Saman Deviyo (deity) , and the regalia from Sripada Rajamaha Vihara in Galpottawala and taking them in procession to Sri Padasthana.  

They will be carried in four processions proceeding through Ratnapura, Awissawella, - Hatton -Nallathanniya route, through Ratnapura - Palabathgala route, Kuruvita – Erathna route and Balangoda- Bagawanthalawa route.  

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Nandana Galaboda said steps have been taken with the help of the state institutions and several private sector voluntary organizations to provide adequate facilities to the pilgrims. He said all arrangements are being made under the guidance of Chief Incumbent of Sripadasthana Ven, Bengamuwe Dhammadinna Thera.   

The District Secretary said selling or having in possession of plastic bottles of water or cigars in the Sripada Pilgrim Route from Nallathanniya to the upper compound will be prohibited. He said steps have been taken to supply free drinking water to the pilgrims taking the Hatton- Nallathanniya route and that they should not carry water in plastic bottles.  

He further said the police have taken steps to provide protection to the pilgrims and to prevent the use of liquor or any other intoxicant in the pilgrim route.  

Meanwhile, Hatton Friendship Society and Jinananda Dhamma School in Hatton launched a programme to refurbish the Upper Compound in Sri Padasthana and to clean its environs.   

It was organized under the guidance of Chief Sanghanayake of Sabaragamuwa Province and Chief Incumbent of Sri Padasthana Ven, Bengamuwe Sri Dhammadinna Thera.  

The young men and women attending to the cleansing programme said moss had grown in masses in the upper compound due to the heavy rain experienced recently and its surroundings polluted by the haphazard disposal of garbage.  

Several police officers of the Hatton Police Division had joined the programme.