Was I ripped off? Vendors forced me to buy a 3,000 LKR fruit basket!

Question

I just visited the Kataragama temple and had a really stressful experience. As soon as we parked, a group of men surrounded our car and basically forced us into a shop to buy a "Pooja Watti" (Fruit Basket).

They told us we must offer one to enter the temple. They charged us 3,000 LKR for a small tray with a coconut and some watermelon. Is this mandatory? I feel like I was bullied.

Viraj Perera · Answer

This is, unfortunately, the #1 complaint in Kataragama. You were definitely overcharged and misled.

**The Reality:** You do NOT need a fruit basket to enter the temple. It is purely an optional offering for devotees who want to make a vow. You can walk in empty-handed just to observe.

**The "Parking" Trick:** These touts often wave you into "free parking" slots that actually belong to their fruit shops. Once you park, they pressure you to buy.

**The Real Price:** A standard fruit tray should cost between 800 – 1,200 LKR depending on the size. 3,000 LKR is a "tourist price."

**Advice:** Next time, park in the official public car park (pay the small ticket fee) and walk past the shops. If they shout, just smile and say "No thank you, just visiting."

Was I ripped off? Vendors forced me to buy a 3,000 LKR fruit basket!

Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Dewalaya

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