Police have recommended the removal of the Kavadi dance segment from the annual Perahera of the historic Sri Uthpalawanna Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya in Devinuwara, scheduled to be held on July 28.
The recommendation made by Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya has been conveyed to the Basnayake Nilame of the Devalaya by Matara District Secretary Chandana Thilakaratne today (26).
The Devinuwara Vishnu Devalaya Perahera is currently being held, with the procession featuring the Kavadi dance segment scheduled for Tuesday.
The recommendation follows intelligence assessments carried out by the Chief of National Intelligence, the State Intelligence Service and the Police Special Task Force, which reportedly indicated a possible dispute between the organisers and the dancers participating in the event.
In a written notice to the Matara District Secretary, the IGP stated that the removal of the Kavadi dance segment was strongly recommended due to the potential security concerns.
The Matara District Secretary subsequently informed the Basnayake Nilame of the Sri Uthpalawanna Sri Vishnu Devalaya regarding the police recommendation.
