The ongoing clash between astrologers over the auspicious times for the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year has taken several new twists last week.

The first was when the State Astrologers’ Committee refuted allegations of faulty auspicious times during the New Year. The committee had justified the designation of auspicious times for performing New Year rituals at night, stating that it wanted the most suitable time for the rituals despite practical difficulties.

Committee Member Astrologer G.M. Gunapala had told a news conference at the Government Information Department last week that the sun’s transit would occur at 9.05 p.m. on 13 April and that the New Year rituals must be designated during the auspicious time within six hours and 24 minutes from the time of the sun’s transit.

He had added that the auspicious times had been designated at night during the said six hours and 24 minutes, avoiding the ‘Rahu Kalaya’.

Committee Member Astrologer Ananda Seneviratne had said that auspicious times in this manner came once every four years and requested the people to follow the designated times.

Meanwhile, another group of astrologers – the National Astrologers’ Committee – last week released an alternative set of auspicious times for the New Year, claiming that theirs would be the proper times instead of those released by the State Astrologers’ Committee.

The National Committee had also presented the new alternative auspicious times to the Opposition Leader as well as Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) senior Basil Rajapaksa.