Sri Lankan police have recommended removing the Kavadi dance segment from the historic Devinuwara Vishnu Devalaya procession scheduled for July 28, citing intelligence assessments of potential violence linked to underworld figures.

The Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya has formally recommended that organisers cancel the Kavadi dance portion of the annual Devinuwara Sri Uthpalawanna Vishnu Devalaya Perahera, with the recommendation communicated to temple officials through the Matara District Secretary on Sunday. The decision follows threat assessments conducted by the Chief of National Intelligence, the State Intelligence Service, and the Police Special Branch, which flagged the possibility of violent confrontation between rival groups connected to the event's organisation and performers.

According to The Island newspaper, the security concerns centre on alleged threats issued by underworld figure Mohamed Imran, known as Kanjipani Imran, who reportedly demanded that a dancer group affiliated with him be allowed to perform in the procession. However, social media claims regarding the underworld dispute have not been independently verified by news outlets.

The recommendation created a policy disagreement within the government. While police and intelligence agencies advised cancelling the Kavadi segment, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala subsequently granted permission for all Kavadi dance troupes that participated in the previous year's procession to perform in this year's event. The Island's editorial analysis characterised the government's decision to allow all groups to participate as effectively capitulating to criminal threats, while acknowledging that law enforcement agencies face genuine security challenges in managing underworld-related risks to public events.

The Devinuwara Perahera festival is proceeding under heightened security measures as the scheduled procession date approaches.