Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

MORE THAN 30,000 PILGRIMS ON “PADA YATRA” EXPECTED

- BY NAYANAJEEW­A BANDARA

The pilgrims on “Pada Yatra” making a long trek through Kumana and Yala sanctuarie­s are expected to set off on their journey on foot on June 27 to attend the Kataragama Esala Festival. Park Warden of the Kumana National Park Sisira Kumara said the entrance to the National Park would be open for pilgrims from June 27 to July 09.

He said more than 25,000 pilgrims from several areas in the country

including the North and East and the upcountry participat­ed in this long journey on foot through Kumana and Yala national park to attend the Esala festival last year.

Meanwhile a senior official of the Monaragala District Secretaria­t said more than 30,000 pilgrims on “Pada Yatra” are expected to attend the Esala Festival. He said the police, the security forces and the wildlife officers would provide them adequate protection and other facilities throughout the journey.

He further said the police and the security forces including the Civil Security Department would implement an intensifie­d security network during the festival and that roads would be subject to continual search operations and that the individual­s engaging in nefarious activities would be arrested and legal action taken against them. The GA further said several health camps would be in operation in the sacred area.

The festival that commences on July 03 will end on July 17 after the water cutting ceremony.

The police, the security forces and the wildlife officers would provide them adequate protection and other facilities throughout the journey

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