Ada Derana

Highly Factual

The live telecast of the ‘Siri Dalanda Vandanawa’, the special veneration of the Sacred Tooth Relic commenced, a short while ago. The special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, will commence this afternoon (18) after 16 years. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, along with Ambassadors, High Commissioners and other diplomats representing several countries, is expected to participate in the inaugural event. At the request of the President, the Siri Dalada Vandanawa will be held under the guidance of the Chief Prelates of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters, and under the direction of the Diyawadana Nilame of the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. The event will continue for 10 days, from today until April 27. Today (18), on the opening day, the public will have the opportunity to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. From tomorrow (19) onwards, veneration will be open daily from 12.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Watch the live telecast below:

Daily Mirror

Highly Factual

By Nimal Kolambissa Colombo, April 18 (Daily Mirror) - A progress review of the 'Sri Dalada Dekma' will be held every morning during the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is set to begin today at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatte said. He expressed these views while addressing the media at the Kandy District Secretariat. The final discussion before the 'Sri Dalada Dekma' was held at Ulpange in Kandy. All organisational activities for the public exposition scheduled to begin in the next few hours, have now been completed. He also stated that this programme is being organised with the participation of several institutions, including the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Central Provincial Council, Kandy District Secretariat, Kandy Municipal Council, Sri Lanka Police, the Tri-Services, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, the Ceylon Electricity Board and Road Development Authority. He said all necessary facilities have been arranged for devotees visiting Kandy, and sanitation systems have been put in place. He also mentioned that seven health centers and several phone charging stations have been set up for the convenience of the devotees. Additionally, he said that Keppetipola College and Vivekananda College in Kandy have been designated as resting places for devotees, with these rest centers being operated under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force personnel. He added that the luggage of devotees coming for the exposition will not be allowed inside the Sri Dalada Maligawa. However, these items can be handed over to centers established by the Sri Lanka Army and the Civil Defence Force. He also requested that devotees refrain from bringing valuable items. Furthermore, he urged devotees not to discard waste in the city, including around the tank, emphasising the importance of keeping the world-famous city of Kandy clean. He concluded by saying that a special operations room is operational for the safety of devotees and coordination of other activities, and that necessary services can be accessed through the following telephone numbers: 081-3146800 and 081-3146900.

Ada Derana

Highly Factual

“Siri Dalada Wandanawa”, the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, being held for the first time in 16 years, is scheduled to commence at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy this afternoon (18), followed by a 10-day public viewing beginning on April 19. Devotees from across the island were seen preparing since yesterday (17) to attend the historic occasion. The special exposition is scheduled to take place at the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, from 3.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. today. Thereafter, it will continue daily for ten days, from 19 to 27 April, from 12.00 noon to 5.30 p.m. Meanwhile, three new access routes have been introduced by the Temple of the Tooth Relic to facilitate the movement of devotees. These include, -entry from D. S. Senanayake Veediya to the Temple’s entrance,  -from Ratubokkuwa through Sangharaja Mawatha to the main entrance of the temple  - from Ratubokkuwa through the temple grounds to the main entrance. Meanwhile, police announced that an extensive security plan including public searches, checkpoints, roadblocks, and a traffic management plan will be implemented ahead of the exposition. Accordingly, vehicular access to the City of Kandy was restricted today to mitigate heavy traffic congestion. Special parking areas have been allocated for vehicles arriving from various parts of the country to witness the historic event. Meanwhile, long-distance buses and city-origin commuter buses are scheduled to operate as usual, with parking limited to Rajapihilla Bus Terminal near the YMBA auditorium and Bogambara Stadium. However, short-distance buses will not be permitted to park within city limits. Police also noted that alternative routes have been designated to facilitate smooth traffic flow for vehicles not attending the exposition. Meanwhile, the police urged the devotees to refrain from bringing offerings for the Sacred Tooth Relic such as flowers, as the items will have to go through a thorough screening process causing huge delays in the process. In addition, Sri Lanka Police’s Information Technology Division has introduced a new system to provide essential services for the convenience of devotees attending the ‘Siri Dalada Wandanawa’ and to facilitate collaboration with the police. Through this platform, devotees can access information and receive instructions regarding the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic via the official website of the Sri Lanka Police, daladadekma.police.lk. The police also urged devotees to refrain from carrying heavy luggage, cameras, recording equipment, and electronic devices into the Temple of the Tooth Relic. In the meantime, 50 schools in the City of Kandy and surrounding areas will be closed from the 21st to the 25th of April in view of the special exposition of the Tooth Relic.

Daily Mirror

Highly Factual

By Shane Seneviratne Colombo, April 18 (Daily Mirror) - There will be no special passes or separate queues issued for VIPs or VVIPs during the upcoming exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, set to begin today 18) at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, according to Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Kandy and Matale Districts, Sudath Masinghe. Speaking at a special media briefing held yesterday at the Kandy DIG’s office, he emphasized that 95% of the devotees attending the exposition would be regular worshippers, and that equal access would be ensured for all. DIG Masinghe added that a selected group of Buddhist monks and foreign ambassadors would be provided special security arrangements and assistance to pay homage to the Sacred Relic. These dignitaries will be given the opportunity to venerate the relic before the official commencement of the event. He also noted that special measures have been taken to manage traffic and ensure the smooth flow of devotees, particularly those arriving in buses and other heavy vehicles, with detailed awareness being provided to both drivers and pilgrims. The exposition draws thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad, and authorities have taken extensive measures to manage the large crowds expected over the coming days.

Daily Mirror

Highly Factual

Colombo, April 18 (Daily Mirror) - Foreign diplomats representing several countries travelled to Kandy this morning in a special observation saloon of a train that departed from the Colombo Fort Railway Station at around 7:00 a.m., the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported. According to the PMD, diplomats from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Netherlands, India, Myanmar, Palestine, France, New Zealand, Cuba, Egypt, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Canada and South Korea are among those participating. The 'Siri Dalada Vandanawa', a special veneration of the Sacred Tooth Relic, begins today (April 18) after a 16-year hiatus. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is expected to attend the inauguration ceremony. This initiative is intended to send a message to Sri Lanka’s friendly nations that the country is on the path to economic recovery, has overcome past challenges, and is fostering national harmony. The event also aims to strengthen international support for Sri Lanka. Upon arrival in Kandy, the delegation first visited the Mahaweli Reach Hotel, where a special Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration was organised in accordance with local customs to welcome them. Additional diplomats are expected to join the group in Kandy, bringing the total number of participants to 44. Together, they will proceed to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the 'Siri Dalada Vandanawa.' After the event, the group will return to Colombo by train. At the request of the President, the 'Siri Dalada Vandanawa' will be conducted under the guidance of the Chief Prelates of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters, and under the direction of the Diyawadana Nilame of the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. The event will be held over 10 days, from today until April 27. Public Veneration Times: April 18 (Opening Day): 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. April 19–27: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily