A disturbing incident was reported from the Horana Municipal Council Literature Festival, where a member of the organising committee allegedly spat into the water glass of veteran lyricist and National Library and Documentation Services Board Chairman Dr Rathna Sri Wijesingha.

The festival, held on 31 October at the Horana Municipal Hall auditorium, had scheduled Dr Wijesingha’s keynote address for 3.30 p.m. He arrived 30 minutes early but was kept waiting for more than three hours, prompting him to question several organisers over the prolonged delay. His address was eventually rescheduled for around 7 p.m.

Dr Wijesingha said he had instructed his driver to bring his water glass to the venue. Two women assigned to assist with event logistics had prepared to take the glass inside, but they stopped in shock when they saw an organiser spit into it. Both refused to continue and broke down in tears.

Dr Wijesingha said the announcer unnecessarily dragged out the programme, and he had conveyed his objections to the organising committee. Attempts to contact the Mayor of Horana for comment were unsuccessful, he said.

Horana Mayor Anil Indika later said that a formal investigation will be conducted into the incident, according to the media.