Vesak glitter ringed by tight security

Areas displaying pandals, vesak lantern exhibitions and large scale dansals particularly in Colombo District, would be considered high security zones during the Vesak season, with army, police and vigilance committees providing security, DIG Colombo Nimal Mediwaka said.

“Identity cards of those entering these zones, would be checked and if people had a problem proving their identity they could be taken in for questioning,” he said. He said there will be 8 pandals 48 large scale dansals and three main Vesak lantern exhibition sites within the Colombo city limits.

Grandpass OIC C.W. Wickramasekara said that they will be providing maximum security to the two main Pandals in Thotalanga and Koswatta. Kirullapone OIC S. Warnakulasuriya, said there will be one large scale dansala in front of the Police Station and a vigilance committee would be in charge of searching the people before they entered the dansala.

Maharagama OIC N. Rubasinghe too said a vigilance committee would be searching the people before they entered the pandal site in Maharagama. Meanwhile, Kadugannawa OIC Rohana Wanigasekara said since many of the vesak attractions would be along the main Colombo-Kandy road, vehicles entering Kandy would be searched at Kadugannawa.

Galle OIC Prasad Ranasinghe too said that maximum security would be in operation at the main pandal site in the city with police and vigilance committee providing security. Anuradhapura OIC too said police would be providing security at the main vesak attractions.