The Ratnapura District Secretariat warned people to refrain from constructing temporary buildings to use as boarding places for pilgrims who visit Sri Pada during this season.
Ratnapura District Secretary Wasantha Gunaratna said unlike previous years no persons are allowed to construct new boarding places for pilgrims in the Sri Pada vicinity and steps have already been taken to check such illegal constructions being erected.
“In addition steps have also been taken to stop beggars who are roaming in the Sri Pada vicinity and various other social organisations who come to this sacred area to collect funds from pilgrims during this period,” he said.
The Ratnapura District Secretary also directed hoteliers, restaurant owners and guest house owners to refrain from selling cigarettes and alcohol in the Sri Pada vicinity during this period.
Meanwhile, Sri Pada Chief incumbent Ven. Bangamuwa Dammadinna Thera announced that the season which began last Full Moon Poya will end on May 13 (Poya Day) next year.
The Central Environment Authority (CEA) also requests pilgrims to refrain from dumping used plastic cans, bottles, polythene papers and unnecessary objects in the Sri Pada vicinity and take them back to their homes after using.
“With the assistance of workers and environmentalists every year we are spending a colossal sum of money to clean the Sri Pada mountain area from unnecessary objects,” he said.
According to a CEA survey it has been revealed that many pilgrims without listening to repeated warnings are in the habit of littering the Sri Pada vicinity.
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