Demonstrators take part in a ritual of boiling milk to mark the Shinala and Tamil New Year during their protest against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in front of the Presidential secretariat, amid the country’s economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on April 14, 2022. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Sri Lanka’s government-backed traditional astrologers have failed to unanimously agree on dates for Sinhala, Tamil New Year rituals, with squabbling seers warning of “disaster” and accusing rivals of misinterpreting the position of stars.

Astrologers are hugely influential figures consulted by both the island’s Buddhist and Hindu communities and their advice for auspicious dates guides everything from marriages to business deals — and even national elections.

But the 42-member group of astrologers employed by the island’s Cultural Affairs Ministry said they were split for the first time on deciding the best date for New Year celebrations.

“We discussed very deeply. After a lot of deliberations, we finalised the auspicious time through a majority decision,” said Ananda Seneviratne, the spokesman for the New Year auspicious time committee. The majority set the dawn of the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year on the night of April 13.

But dissenting seer Roshan Chanaka said the time was wrong and would lead the country into “disaster”. “Sri Lanka “will go up in flames” if the “official times” are followed,” he added, without giving further details.

Sri Lanka is emerging from its worst economic crisis, which led to months of street protests and forced then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in July 2022. His successor, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is widely expected to run for re-election in polls later this year, potentially between September and October.

Nearly a decade ago, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa called a snap election in January 2015 based on the date advised by his personal astrologer. He lost the polls.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on October 23 effected the first reshuffle of his Cabinet, changing the portfolios of two Ministers, amidst criticism from the Opposition that he was planning to postpone elections that are due in the cash-strapped country next year.

Significantly, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was moved to the Environment Ministry following weeks of public dissatisfaction with his handling of the Ministry.

Mr. Rambukwella, 69, survived a motion of no-confidence in Parliament moved against him by the Opposition to highlight inefficiency, corruption and mismanagement in the Ministry’s conduct.

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Mr. Rambukwella a fortnight back had ordered a police investigation into an Indian company’s alleged supply of a substandard drug. The Indian company had however denied such a supply to a Sri Lankan importer.

The Environment Ministry was held by Mr. Wickremesinghe himself when the incumbent came to be disqualified as a Member of Parliament through a court order.

The Health Ministry has been now put under Ramesh Pathirana, a doctor in addition to being the Minister of Industries.

Mr. Wickremesinghe’s action for a minor reshuffle came as the Opposition mounted criticism that he was planning to postpone the major elections due for next year.

However, Mr. Wickremesinghe stressed on Sunday that both Presidential and Parliamentary elections would be held next year as per the constitutional stipulation.