The Auspicious Times Sheet (Nekath Seettuwa) prepared for the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year is scheduled to be released to the public today (17) by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, stated Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake.

Taking into consideration the inconvenience faced by the public during the previous year due to criticisms and conflicting opinions among astrologers, Deputy Minister Dissanayake presented the officially agreed-upon 2027 Sinhala New Year auspicious times sheet—prepared by the newly re-established Auspicious Times Committee—to the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters.

Speaking to the Mahanayake Theros, the Deputy Minister explained that the National Auspicious Times Committee, which had been disbanded due to various issues, was re-established by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and now comprises 19 astrologers representing diverse backgrounds.

During the meeting, Most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thero of the Malwatte Chapter noted that when committee members publicly criticize auspicious times after publishing them without a prior consensus, it causes great confusion for the public. He commended the decision to publish the times well in advance based on a common agreement to prevent such issues this time.

Addressing the media after presenting the auspicious times sheet to the Mahanayake and Anunayake Theros, Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake stated that following the decision to reinstate the committee, public applications were invited, yielding a large response.

Out of those applicants, the 19 most qualified individuals were selected for the panel. He added that the Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs is scheduled to officially release the Nekath Seettuwa to the public today (17).

The Deputy Minister further remarked that during the election period, certain groups made baseless claims that the country's religion and culture would be severely harmed under a National People's Power (NPP) government. He emphasized that the government’s practical actions have now disproved those who claimed that temples would not be allowed to offer Buddha Pooja or conduct the Dalada Perahera.