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Night races in Kandy: Who is telling the truth?
View(s):Uncertainty prevails over plans to hold night races in Kandy next month, with high-level authorities saying they have been put off, but the organisers including Kandy Mayor Lohan Ratwatte, saying they were going ahead. Highly placed authorities said that taking heed of the advice given by the Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters, the organisers of the races had put off the event indefinitely.
They said the chances of the night races being held in Kandy were remote. According to them, the authorities have requested the organisers to find a location outside the Kandy city, where the roads were heavily congested throughout the day.
It was earlier reported that the organisers of the race had decided to postpone the event to the end of June, from its scheduled dates of May 17 and 18. This was the second occasion the race was put off this year. The organisers cited the victory-day parade and the upcoming Vesak festival, during which a large number of devotees visit the ‘Dalada Maligawa’ in Kandy.
Last year the races were held despite protests by various groups which said inconvenience was caused to the people. However the races, which were held for the second time last year, took place without incidents and were watched by a large number of spectators. According to reports, some 25,000 bags of sand and more than 5,000 bags of sawdust were placed around the track.
The races were organised by the Kandy Off-road Adventure Club and the Southern Motor Sports Club.Despite the moves to postpone the races, the Foundation to Protect the Heritage of Kandy led by Nimal Premawamsa is continuing protests as it believes the night races will tarnish the image of the historic city.
Mr. Premawamsa said they were shocked that the races were to be held on a route that was also used for the Esala Perahera and was directly in front of the Dalada Maligawa.
The group also said mobile bars were to be set up along the route of the race to sell alcohol to spectators. Mr. Premawamsa said that Kandy being a sacred city should not be defiled by public alcohol consumption which was against the teachings of the Buddha Dhamma.
He said the Mahanayakes of the Asgiriya and Malwatte chapters had objected to the night races in Kandy and sent a petition to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said that during the last year’s race, the people were forced to buy tickets to enter the roads where races were being held regardless of whether they wanted to watch the races or just to go to a shop.
Mr. Premawamsa accused young Government MPs of organising this event despite the adverse impact it would have on the city which has been declared by UNESCO as a heritage city. However, MP Dilum Amunugama, who is part of the organising committee, claimed that no such objections had been made to the organisers and he had not called off the event.
He claimed that the religious leaders had been consulted and there were no objections.Kandy Mayor Lohan Ratwatte said he, along with MP Namal Rajapaksa, spoke to the two Mahanayakes earlier this year and that all was in place for the races to be held.
When asked whether he knew about the petition to the President he said he was not aware of it.
The mayor said if there were objections, those who were against the races should come forward and speak to the organisers.
He accused the JVP of inciting the people of Kandy to protest against the night races. Mr. Ratwatte said they would ensure the night races were held successfully regardless of protestors.He said the races were postponed to June due to the Victory-Day Parade being held this month.
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