Tight Security as Sri Lanka Revives Key Ritual at Centuries-Old Hindu Festival

Colombo: A key ritual at Sri Lanka’s centuries-old Esala pageant returned on Tuesday under heavy security after being cancelled earlier over an underworld threat. Around 1,500 security personnel, including elite Special Task Force (STF) members, were deployed to protect the Kavadi ritual at the Uthpalawanna Sri Vishnu Temple in Devinuwara.

The ritual had been suspended on Sunday following intelligence warnings of a possible armed or drone attack allegedly linked to a feud between fugitive drug kingpins Shehan Sathsara and Kanjipani Imran, who are believed to be operating from overseas.