Complaint filed over alleged bribe for Vesak zone

A serious allegation has surfaced regarding the allocation of space for the upcoming Vesak celebrations in Colombo. A complaint lodged with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) claims that a bribe of 30 lakh rupees was solicited from a former chairman of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, Sudath Devapura, to secure permission for the 'Sri Bauddha Lokaya' Vesak zone on Bauddhaloka Mawatha. The accusation was brought to light during a CMC meeting by Opposition Leader Rizvi Zarook, who presented a letter from the World Buddhist Congress detailing the matter. Mayor VRAI Callie Baltazaar confirmed that the CMC is aware of the complaint and will investigate. The situation is complicated by the fact that the permit for the Vesak zone was initially granted in December 2025, renewed in February 2026, and then reportedly cancelled by a former CMC Commissioner, Palitha Nanayakkara, on April 24th. The World Buddhist Congress's letter to the CMC states that the group attempting to secure the permit for themselves offered the bribe to Sudath Devapura. The Sri Lanka Centre of the World Buddhist Congress has requested an institutional and criminal investigation into how their permit was cancelled and a new one issued to a second party, while also seeking the reinstatement of their original permit to ensure the Vesak celebrations proceed without hindrance. This incident raises concerns about transparency and integrity in the allocation of public spaces for religious festivals, particularly during significant events like Vesak.

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A complaint has been received that a bribe of 30 lakh rupees was proposed to be given to former chairman of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, Sudath Devapura, to obtain permission to allocate Bauddhaloka Mawatha for the Vesak festival.