If a Cable Car is installed, stop it near the Heramiti Pahana - Sri Pada Chief Incumbent Thero

The Chief Incumbent of Sri Pada, Dhamma Keerthi Sri Thripitakacharya Venerable Bengamuwe Sri Dhammadinna Nahimi, has extended his blessings to the cable car project planned to be implemented by the government. However, His Lordship emphasized that when installing this cable car system, it should be limited only to the "Haramiti Pahana" area.

Meanwhile, the Chief Incumbent of Sri Pada officially announced that the 2025-2026 Sri Pada pilgrimage season will conclude on May 31st. Accordingly, this year's pilgrimage season will end after a special religious ceremony held on the morning of May 31st, the day after Vesak Full Moon Poya.

A special discussion to inform government and private sector officials about the conclusion of the Sri Pada pilgrimage season was held at the Nallathanniya Grama Seva office, where the Chief Incumbent made this statement. According to the tradition of ending the pilgrimage season, arrangements have been made to carry the sacred relic casket and the statues of God Saman, which are enshrined in the upper courtyard of Sri Pada, in a procession along four routes.

These procession activities are planned such that one procession will travel along the Ratnapura – Palabaddala road and the Kuruwita – Erathna road, while other processions will travel via Nallathanniya along the Bogawantalawa – Balangoda road and via Nallathanniya – Laxapana – Avissawella. The sacred objects thus carried will be placed at the Pelmadulla Sri Pada Rajamaha Viharaya on that night for religious observances, and thereafter will be safely deposited at the Galpoththawala Sri Pada Rajamaha Viharaya until the end of the off-season.

Venerable Bengamuwe Sri Dhammadinna Nahimi recalled that despite various disruptions caused by the "Ditwa" cyclone during this pilgrimage season, the pilgrimage period as a whole was successfully concluded. It was particularly revealed during a discussion chaired by the Nuwara Eliya District Secretary that minimizing environmental pollution during this pilgrimage season was a significant achievement.

It was stated that due to the drinking water project implemented from Seetha Gangula to Indikatu Pana, the number of plastic bottles discarded into the environment by pilgrims has significantly decreased. Taking this success into consideration, authorities further mentioned that necessary steps would be taken to extend the relevant water project up to the upper courtyard of Sri Pada in the coming year.