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Kandy ‘Janaraja Perahara’ to be held after 3 decades

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The ‘Janaraja Perahara’ hosted by the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy will be held on February 19, after a gap of 34 years.

The President’s Media Division (PMD) said the procession has been organized to coincide with the 75th Independence Celebration, and it will be inaugurated under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

According to the Coordinating and Cultural Officer of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the procession will begin from the Magul Maduwa premises at 6.30 pm on February 19.

It will parade along the Dalada Street, Yatinuwara Street, Kanda Street, Raja Street, and return to the temple, marking the end of the event. The organizers have made preparations to make the Janaraja Perahera colourful, with cultural performances, including dancing troops, and caparisoned elephants, similar to the annual Esala Perahara.

However, unlike the Kandy Esala Perahara, the Dalada Karanduwa (Casket carrying the sacred relics) will not be carried on a tusker at the Janaraja Perahera. Instead, the national emblem of Sri Lanka will be carried.

The Janaraja Perahera aims to promote the tourism industry, and facilities have been arranged along the Janaraja Perahera route for the spectators who come to witness it.

The Janaraja Perahara was first organised in 1875 to celebrate the arrival of the Duke of Wales, the son of Queen Victoria.

The procession was also held in 1954 when Queen Elizabeth II, the then-Head of State of Sri Lanka, visited the country. The Queen watched the Janaraja Perahara from the Patthirippuwa.

In 1981, a similar procession was held, and Queen Elizabeth II watched the procession from a special platform built in the Maha Maluwa, the main courtyard.

The last time the Janaraja Perahara was held was in 1987 by the then Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa.

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Rains expected in several areas today

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The Meteorology Department says that several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts today (July 07).

A few showers may occur in the North-western province.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Strong winds of about 40-50 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Former Eastern Provincial Council member arrested

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Ampara District Organizer of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal party and former member of the Eastern Provincial Council K. Pushpakumar alias Iniya Bharathi has been arrested.

He was arrested over the abduction and disappearance of the former Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University Prof. Subramaniyam Ravindranath.

Sivanathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and former State Minister, was arrested by the Colombo Criminal Investigation Department at his office in Batticaloa on April 8, over this incident.

He was later detained for 3 months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Iniya Bharathi, also known as Kumaraswamy Pushpakumar, was arrested based on information revealed during the interrogation of Pillayan.

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e-Revenue Licence system down due to technical glitch, ICTA says

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The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) said the electronic Revenue Licence system (eRL 2.0) is currently unavailable due to a critical technical infrastructure issue.

According to the ICTA, the disruption began on July 3, 2025, and has made vehicle revenue licence issuing services inaccessible.

The unavailability is expected to continue until July 9, 2025.

The ICTA expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the public and assured that technical teams are working urgently to resolve the issue.

The agency also said that further updates will be shared as work progresses, with an official notice to be issued once services are restored.

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