In a dramatic twist to Sri Lanka’s religious and political landscape, the national exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic was finally held after a 16-year gap. The credit, and criticism, largely falls on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. While his bold initiative revived a long-stalled cultural milestone, the execution raised serious concerns about political overreach, crumbling infrastructure, and the manipulation of tradition for electoral gain.
Malik Samarawickrama: The Quiet Architect Behind the Scenes
According to CCTV footage from the Sri Dalada Maligawa, President Dissanayake had previously visited the Malwatte Maha Nayaka Thera accompanied only by Malik Samarawickrama, a name once deeply entwined with Ranil Wickremesinghe’s regime. This clandestine visit sparked speculation. Why was Malik, long perceived as a political dealmaker and symbol of the old guard, now reappearing under Anura’s presidency?
It soon became clear: Samarawickrama was the President’s key to unlocking the decades-long deadlock surrounding the Sacred Tooth Relic exposition. Chief Prelates who had denied Wickremesinghe’s attempts now approved Anura’s plan, possibly influenced by Malik’s diplomacy or by shifting political winds.
Anura entrusted Malik—not a member of his party but a respected emissary to Buddhist leaders—to formally deliver the request to the Malwatte Chapter. The Malwatte Chief Prelate granted his blessing and advised that the President also consult the Asgiriya Chapter and the Diyawadana Nilame. This marked a quiet but monumental turning point: after years of failed efforts, the 2025 Dalada exposition was becoming a reality.
Breaking Centuries of Tradition
In a departure from time-honored protocol, Anura publicly announced the exposition before final approval was granted by all three traditional custodians. Normally, the President is merely informed, not involved in such decisions, which are made after closed-door discussions among the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chief Prelates and the Diyawadana Nilame.
For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, a President had declared an exposition on his own initiative. While some praised the boldness, others called it a breach of sacred protocol and an act of political naivety. Religious experts suggested Anura may have lacked proper advisers well-versed in temple customs and constitutional parallels.
This break with tradition quickly turned into a controversy, casting a shadow over what was meant to be a unifying religious celebration.
A City Strains: Kandy Faces the Crowd
Promotional efforts spearheaded by the government successfully mobilized citizens from every province. From April 15 onwards, thousands flooded into Kandy, despite the official start scheduled for April 18.
However, the ancient hill capital, designed to accommodate 150,000 people, found itself housing more than 350,000 pilgrims. Streets were clogged, sanitation collapsed, and food stalls were overwhelmed. Although the Temple covered internal logistics, the government had assumed responsibility for managing the city’s crowd control, traffic, meals, and public safety.
While dansals (charity food stalls) and temporary toilets were planned, they proved wholly inadequate. Even on day one, the situation spiraled. Reports surfaced of families sleeping on sidewalks and pilgrims fainting in overcrowded lines.
The Diyawadana Nilame, faced with growing panic, contacted the President. Within hours, the Army Commander was notified, and 15,000 emergency meal parcels were distributed to distressed devotees. While the intervention helped, it also exposed how unprepared the government had been for the scale of the turnout.
Chaos at the Queues: Who Got In, Who Was Left Out
The Sacred Tooth Relic was displayed in the chanting pavilion, with three formal queues for public access. A separate, restricted inner queue was reserved for senior monks, judicial officers, devalaya officials, and temple affiliates. However, tensions rose when thousands attempted to enter the VIP lane without authorization.
Every day, around 3,000 people were cleared for the VIP lane, but nearly 15,000 tried to force their way in. Rumors of political interference circulated rapidly. Yet the Temple administration publicly maintained that no government ministers, MPs, or their families were granted preferential treatment.
Still, the queues symbolized the stark divide between those with connections and those who had waited days. The controversy over queue management became a media focal point, overshadowing the spiritual purpose of the event.
Ceremonial Splendor and Public Misunderstanding
On April 18, the ceremonial opening took place with all ritual grandeur. The inner casket locked with seven keys was opened by the Diyawadana Nilame and the Mahanayake Theras in a traditional sequence. The Sacred Tooth Relic was placed in the Hemamala Casket and officially unveiled.
President Anura arrived at the Temple around 1:30 p.m. but remained inside the Diyawadana Nilame’s office during the sacred proceedings. Still, the public, unaware of the religious rites inside, assumed the President was using his power for VIP access. Social media exploded with indignation.
In fact, the ceremony lasted two and a half hours. Inside the Temple were 33 ambassadors, the Governor, several ministers, and top cultural officials. To the outside world, though, it looked like a backdoor privilege.
The Extension Showdown
As April 27 the planned closing date approached, Anura proposed an extension. His justification was simple: many pilgrims had still not paid homage. But the Chief Prelates and Diyawadana Nilame stood firm. A formal meeting on April 25 rejected the extension.
That same night, Anura traveled to Kandy unannounced. He held late-night meetings with the public and pleaded his case to temple authorities the next morning. Again, the answer was no. The President left Kandy without securing the additional days.
Counting the Devotees: Conflicting Numbers, Confused Leaders
Four separate bodies were assigned to count attendees: the police, military, Institution of Engineers, and a team under Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake. But their data diverged widely.
The police and military reported approximately 56,000 attendees per day. The engineers, however, claimed only 36,000. The Governor chose to believe the engineers, leading to resource misallocation and overcrowding.
To further complicate matters, the newly appointed DIG for Kandy, Sudath Asmadala, had replaced Mahinda Dissanayake just one week before the event. Many questioned the wisdom of such a drastic change at a critical time.
The queues, meanwhile, wound around the Red Bridge, Joy Boat Service, and D.S. Senanayake Street. Those who couldn’t enter by 5 p.m. had to sleep outside, hoping for access the next day.
Overstepping Roles: Governor vs. Nilame
Observers noted that the Central Province Governor issued public statements usually reserved for the Diyawadana Nilame. He even proposed that the exposition be held annually, a role clearly outside his jurisdiction.
Critics saw this as evidence of an administrative power grab. Others speculated the Governor was acting under Anura’s direction, trying to elevate the government’s role in an event traditionally steered by religious custodians.
The Rajapaksa Contrast: War-time Efficiency vs. Peace-time Disarray
Commentators were quick to recall the 2009 exposition, held during the civil war under Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s security framework. Despite ongoing terrorism threats, the event was orderly, secure, and extended by three days with formal religious approval.
That event—attended by nearly 1.5 million people is now being contrasted with 2025’s chaotic version. While Anura operated during peacetime, his event faced far more public criticism, largely due to fragmented leadership and protocol breaches.
Ranil’s Missed Opportunity
In 2023, then-President Ranil Wickremesinghe had the chance to organize the exposition but made a critical error: he delegated the duty of inviting the Chief Prelates to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. This break from custom offended the Buddhist clergy and led to the cancellation of the event.
The Deputy Minister of Public Administration also drew criticism for making ceremonial announcements—a duty reserved for the Diyawadana Nilame. Religious leaders viewed these missteps as disrespectful encroachments.
When Anura finally succeeded, it was seen as both a diplomatic victory and a political strategy a chance to prove leadership through cultural stewardship.
Final Reflections: A Sacred Win or a Political Misfire?
While President Anura Kumara Dissanayake managed to achieve what many before him could not, the cost was high. Allegations of power concentration, breakdowns in public service, and disregard for temple authority tarnished what could have been a legacy-defining moment.
The Sacred Tooth Relic exposition did indeed unify the country but in criticism as much as in faith. As pilgrims returned home and the sacred casket was sealed, Sri Lanka was left to debate: did the ends justify the means?
One thing is clear: the next leader who attempts to host this revered event will face not just spiritual responsibility, but the burden of getting every detail right.
SOURCE :- SRI LANKA GUARDIAN
