Exposition of Sacred tooth relic Proper planning would have avoided havoc: Opposition politician

• It is obvious that exposition of sacred tooth is a politically motivated one as it has taken place during the time when a election is around the corner

By Yohan Perera   

Proper planning with regard to the exposition of the sacred tooth relic in Kandy would have avoided havoc experienced by the devotees and littering while effective planning would have also saved the lives of four devotees who have already died while waiting to worship the relic, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National Organizer Tissa Attanayake said yesterday.   

“The exposition of the relic is to go on for ten days. A day each should have been allocated for people in each province. Such an arrangement could have prevented the heavy traffic congestion in Kandy. Crowds which approach Kandy could have been effectively managed if one day was allocated for people from each province,”Attanayake said.   

“Facilities provided for devotees arriving in Kandy these days are zero. The authorities have failed to provide facilities for devotees to relive themselves. The Kandy Municipal Council should have teamed up with other local bodies in the district to provide temporary toilets for devotees. Also food is distributed for devotees only in the vicinity of the Maligawa. There should have been food and drinks distribution points elsewhere in the city as well,” he added.   

He also said authorities should have studied how other countries manage crowds and provide facilities for large number of people who approach a city for a special event.   

“We have also received complaints from hundreds of people who had come to Kandy. It is obvious that exposition of sacred tooth is a politically motivated one as it has taken place during the time when an election is around the corner,” the SJB National Organizer said.   

“We welcome the exposition but it has to be done with genuine intentions. Such an important event should not be subjected to politicization,” he said.