A definitive choice regarding the controversial inclusion of the Kavadi performance in the annual Esala festival of the Devinuwara Utpalawarna Sri Vishnu Devalaya will be reached this afternoon, as stated by Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Southern Province, Kithsiri Jayalath. A special meeting is convened this afternoon at the Matara District Secretariat to resolve the existing issues, following a special press briefing held today.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya, Matara District Secretary Chandana Tilakaratne, and Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Southern Province, Kithsiri Jayalath, will participate in this crucial discussion.

Kavadi dancing was included in the Devinuwara Esala festival approximately 35 to 40 years ago, but a serious deterioration in discipline has been observed over the past few years, according to the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police. Some dancers performed indecently while half-naked or exposing private areas, and the majority of dancers joined the procession while heavily intoxicated, he noted.

Consequently, after deciding to remove several unruly groups and permit only a specific number of individuals through a special association headed by the Chief Custodian, unrest arose among connected underworld factions, drawing police attention to festival security, while administrative powers of the procession are vested in the District Secretary under the Pilgrimages Ordinance No. 13 of 1896, with the responsibility of the police limited to providing security, the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police stated.