Home / Crime and Justice / Devinuwara Pageant Resumes Amid Underworld Feud Threats
Devinuwara Pageant Resumes Amid Underworld Feud Threats
28 Jul
Summary
- Pageant's Kavadi ritual resumed Tuesday with 1,500 personnel providing security.
- Underworld feud over drug kingpin rivalry led to earlier cancellation.
- Crystal methamphetamine and cannabis seized from individuals during security checks.
The traditional Kavadi ritual at Sri Lanka's Devinuwara Esala pageant recommenced on Tuesday, bolstered by a significant security presence of around 1,500 personnel, including the Special Task Force. This return followed an abrupt cancellation on Sunday due to intelligence reports of a potential armed or drone attack.
The earlier cancellation was reportedly connected to escalating tensions between fugitive drug kingpins Shehan Sathsara and Kanjipani Imran. These rivalries have fueled violence, including a March 2025 shooting incident near the temple and a recent shooting at a nearby house.
Security forces conducted thorough checks on participants of the Kavadi ritual on Tuesday. During these checks, illicit substances, including crystal methamphetamine and cannabis, were confiscated from several individuals. Police sources indicated that a change in the contract for performing the ritual, awarded to followers of Sathsara over those linked to Imran, exacerbated the existing feud.
The Devinuwara Esala pageant, originating in the 13th century, is a significant religious and cultural festival honoring Lord Vishnu, a guardian deity of Sri Lanka. The festival traditionally signifies the harmonious coexistence of Buddhist and Hindu traditions. The Kavadi ritual itself is a devotional dance where participants carry decorated structures while dancing to devotional music as an expression of gratitude.
