A Call for Accountability and Better Planning During large scale Sacred Events

The recent Exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, a deeply revered and historic event, was sadly marred by the overwhelming mismanagement of crowds, queues, back door queues, sanitation, and garbage collection. The city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was desecrated with tons of garbage strewn across its streets—an unacceptable situation for a most sacred and culturally significant occasion.

While we as a nation continue to search for accountability and answers regarding tragedies like the Easter Sunday attacks and the COVID-19 crisis, we must apply the same level of scrutiny and commitment to learning from the alarming failures witnessed during this religious event. The sheer scale of disorganization not only disrupted the sanctity of the event but also posed serious public health and environmental hazards.

It is imperative that we identify those responsible for the lack of preparation and coordination and implement a proper framework to avoid such failures in the future. Authorities must take responsibility for planning and ensuring basic facilities such as crowd control, sanitation, and systematic garbage collection.

As a constructive suggestion, may I propose that in future expositions we adopt a district-wise viewing schedule, based on National Identity Cards. This would help regulate the flow of devotees and ease the pressure on city infrastructure, ensuring a more dignified and organized environment for worship.

Let us not allow sacred traditions to be overshadowed by administrative negligence.

A G Weerasinghe.