Planning is under way for this year’s Sri Dalada Maha Perahera of the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya, with a preliminary coordination meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, The Island reported.
The meeting focused on arrangements for this year’s Esala festival, during which the 126th Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya Sri Dalada Maha Perahera will take place. The annual procession is scheduled to commence at 8:00 p.m. on September 12, 2026.
Discussions centred on ensuring the pageant is staged with due grandeur and dignity through the full coordination of the Government, with attention given to the institutional support, security and logistical arrangements needed for the event to proceed smoothly.
According to The Island, those present included the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya and Deputy Registrar of the Sri Kalyani Samasri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha, Venerable Dr. Aluthnuwara Anuruddha Nayaka Thera, and the Buddhist Affairs Coordinator of the Kotte Divisional Secretariat, Venerable Urugamuwe Dhammadassi Thera.
Also in attendance were Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Harsha Vithanaarachchi, Mayor of Kotte Arosha Athapaththu, Chairman of the Maharagama Municipal Council Saman Samarakoon and Divisional Secretary of Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Kasun Epa Senevirathne, along with representatives of state institutions, sponsoring organisations and senior officials of the security forces.
