• SJB member says inadequate sanitation facilities provided

The main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), expressed concerns about inadequate and impractical arrangements made by the Government for the devotees who visited the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy to worship the Sacred Tooth Relic during the past few days.

These concerns were raised mainly about the sanitation facilities provided for these devotees, regarding which SJB member Niroshan Padukka added that the lack of facilities had placed the devotees in a difficult situation. He discussed these matters while addressing the media at a press briefing held yesterday (27) in Colombo.

Padukka pointed out that five individuals including two police officers had died during the exposition of the Tooth Relic, and that members of the Government do not seem to know that this is a high-temperature season. Because of the Government’s short-sighted actions, he opined, the public suffered. In addition, quoting official statistics, he explained that around 53,000 persons had received the opportunity to see the Sacred Tooth Relic every day. However, he alleged that despite the promises that 600 mobile toilets would be provided, only 200 had been provided which is not sufficient for the devotees.

Moreover, he criticised the Government for allegedly using the ruling party’s employees instead of public officials.