The government has taken the decision to cover the estimated electricity bill incurred by the Sri Dalada Palace and Satara Maha Devala during the 10-day tour of the Esala Perahara Street in Kandy.
Chandana Tennakoon, the Kandy District Secretary, confirmed this decision during a special discussion convened at the Dalada Maligawa multi-purpose building to address the organization of this year’s Kandy Esala Perahara festival.
Previously, the Electricity Board had calculated the electricity charges related to the Perahara festival, presenting an estimated bill of Rs. 1,329,000 (one crore thirty two lakh ninety nine thousand rupees) to both the Dalada Maligawa and Satara Maha Dewala.
Hemantha Bandara, President of the Basnayake Nilames Association of the Patthini Temple in Kandy, highlighted that such estimates were not previously issued to the temples, and the temples expressed their inability to meet the financial obligations.
Responding to these concerns, the Electricity Board subsequently revised the initial estimate from Rs. 1,329,000 to Rs. 710,000 (seventy-one lakh rupees), with the government committing to cover the latter amount.
The discussion also saw the participation of notable figures, including Dhammadassi Nahiin of the Asgiri faction’s Anunayaka Pujya Anamaduwa, Pradeep Nilanga Dela, the Diadavana Nilame of Sri Dalada Palace, Basnayake Nilames of Satara Maha Devala, and various government officials. The government’s decision to alleviate the financial burden on these important cultural institutions underscores its commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage and the continuity of traditional events.
