Daily NEWS Srilanka

A heated situation has developed this morning (22) at Katharagama Devala with the Deva Poojawa not being held as usual. As a consequence of a dispute that flared up between Basnayaka Nilame and the Kapu Mahaththayas, the Basnayaka Nilame has not handed over the key of the main door of the Devala this morning

The morning poojava of the Katharagama Devala usually begins at 4.30 early morning and a large number of Buddhist and Hindu devotees who come from distant areas had been getting ready from 2 - 3 breaking rest for the poojava, in queues. Since the door was continuously closed unlike on other days inevitably had encountered several hardships.

What kapu mahaththayas of Katharagama Devala had said was that because the Basnayaka Nilame had refused to give over the door key of the main devala they had not been able to begin the poojavas. The person responsible for this act was Basnayaka Nilame D.P. Kumarage.

After a tensed situation emerged among the devotees, the police, those of the area and devotees mediated in this matter and managed to retrieve the key from Basnayaka Nilame and finally open the door for poojas of Katharagama Maha Devala. What the Nilame told police was that though he came to open the door, the kapuwas had prevented it.