DEVOTEES AT RELIC EXPOSITION SADDENED DUE TO POLICE NEGLIGENCE

Accordingly, only 120,000 to 130,000 worshippers could reach the relic.

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This means that approximately 30,000 people in the queues were ultimately unable to worship the Sacred Tooth Relic. This unfortunate situation occurred despite the President’s clear request that everyone in the queues be given the opportunity to worship. It reflects a serious disregard for the President’s directive to end VIP queues not only by the custodians of the Dalada Maligawa but also by various officials. Although elite groups in Kandy continued to organise VIP queues, as the Commander-in-Chief and Minister of Defence, the President’s recommendation should have been enforced by the tri-forces and the police at the very least. However, this did not happen. It was a common sight to see relatives being taken through VIP queues in official Air Force and police vehicles.