Special Traffic Plan Announced for Navam Maha Perahera in Colombo

Sri Lanka Police have announced a special traffic management plan in view of the annual Navam Maha Perahera of the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. The plan includes road closures and traffic diversions scheduled for the evenings of January 31 and February 1.

According to Police, the traffic plan will be in effect from 6.30 p.m. on both days to facilitate the religious procession, which is expected to attract large crowds and cause heavy congestion in central Colombo.

The Police Media Division stated that the Perahera will assemble along W.A.D. Ramanayake Mawatha, Park Street and Jinarathana Mawatha. The procession will commence from Jinarathana Mawatha near the temple and proceed along Hunupitiya Wewa Road, W.A.D. Ramanayake Mawatha, Sir James Peiris Mawatha, Altair Avenue, Staple Street and Baybrook Place, before concluding at the Gangaramaya Temple.

Several roads and key junctions will be closed or subject to restrictions during the procession. These include the W.A.D. Ramanayake Mawatha–Hunupitiya Wewa Road Junction, Dharmapala Mawatha–Park Street Junction and the Union Place–Hyde Park Corner Junction. Entry restrictions will also be imposed on several connecting roads and junctions along the Perahera route.

Motorists travelling along Sir James Peiris Mawatha are advised to use alternative routes via Union Place, Nawam Mawatha, Uththarananda Mawatha and Dharmapala Mawatha to avoid delays.

Police noted that traffic diversions will be implemented only along the Perahera route, while vehicular movement will be permitted in areas where the procession is not in progress. The public and motorists are urged to cooperate with authorities and use designated alternative routes to minimise inconvenience.

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