Hatton Route Pilgrims Face Ascent Restrictions Beyond Indikatupana This Sripada Season

Norwood Divisional Secretary Sameera Gamlath has announced that special restrictions have been imposed on local and foreign devotees traveling via the Hatton route during the upcoming 2025-2026 Sri Pada pilgrimage season, preventing them from ascending beyond the Indikatupana area. This decision was made based on recommendations provided after a special investigation conducted by a team of geologists from the National Building Research Organisation regarding the prevailing adverse weather conditions and the safety of the terrain.

According to this new decision, pilgrims arriving via the Hatton route can travel as usual up to Indikatupana. From there, after passing the Indikatupana police post and traveling approximately 600 meters, they will have to access the Ratnapura route. It is through connecting to the Ratnapura route that devotees arriving from the Hatton route will be able to proceed to the Sri Pada summit.

This measure has been taken considering the hazardous situation created by a recent landslide in the Mahagiridamba area on the Sri Pada Hatton route, and several development and reconstruction activities are scheduled to be carried out at that location in the future. Steps have been taken to implement a special program for the safety of pilgrims under the instructions of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Lalith Pathinayake, who is in charge of the Central Province, and arrangements have been made to deploy an additional team of police officers for this purpose.

Commenting on this, the Chief Incumbent of Sri Pada, Venerable Bengamuwe Sri Dhammadinna Nayaka Thero, emphasized that

regardless of the number of pilgrims who arrive, their safety must be considered the foremost priority. However, His Reverence further stated that despite the prevailing conditions, the 2025-2026 Sri Pada pilgrimage season will continue uninterrupted.