Security in Kandy

Security in Kandy during the Perahera was very tight, despite the calm, appreciative crowds. There were thousands of police officers. It is a bit difficult to see because this photo was taken from the window of the van, but there were hundreds of police officers gathered for a meeting about four hours before the parade.



To get access to the parade route you had to undergo a rather thorough search. All bags and bodies were searched (women in small tents). Female police officers squeezed my breasts, patted down my arms and legs, felt in between my legs and looked down my bra. Later, before the parade, random people along the route were searched, as well as the barrels of fresh water provided by the Red Cross. I now feel concerned about airport security, as it is so slack in comparison to the Perahera security!

When asked about the tight security, Ranji and Ravi told us that years ago there had been a political bombing at the Perahera.Indeed, after the parade on Thursday, someone tampered with the railways tracks, trying to derail the train from Kandy to Colombo. Luckily the driver of the train recognized the problem and was able to stop the train in time.