KMC requests visitors to use water sparingly during Perehera

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Those who visit the Kandy city to view the Dalada Perahera should use water sparingly in view of the prevailing dry weather in the country, Prabhath Maddumaarachchi, Deputy Municipal Commissioner – Kandy said on Wednesday in a televised interview.

The Kandy Municipal Council (KMC) provided water to the people who flocked to Kandy to view the historical procession, but the prevailing drought had made that task uphill, Maddumarachchi said. “Waste management is a main concern. A perahera usually ends at midnight and we have to clean everything up by 6 am. Our fire department is also available 24 hours a day,” he said.

Maddumaarachchi said the KMC had set up temporary water tanks 50 metres apart.

“We also have water bowsers to meet an emergency. We also need public support. We need people to use water sparingly,” he said.

Maddumaarachchi said this year’s procession had attracted a large number of foreign tourists to Kandy.Head of KMC Health Department Dr. Pasan Parakum Jayasinghe said they had been inspecting all eateries to ensure the quality of food for sale.

Chandana Abeyratna, PHI attached to the KMC Solid Waste Management Department said that on an average day they removed 100 tonnes of waste.

“During perahera time we dispose of an additional 80 tonnes of waste. We use about 200 people to collect garbage at night; we do this for 10 nights in a row,” he said.

Maddumaarachchi said the perahera had commenced on 21 August and five kumbal peraheras would take place, from 26 to 30 August, Randoli peraheras would be held with a day perahera marking the end of the Kandy Perahera season on 31 August. “We have removed all the branches of trees that would pose a danger to devotees. There are many large trees along the perahera route. We have pruned them.