Sri Lanka’s government-backed traditional astrologers have failed to unanimously agree on the best date for 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 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,” said Ananda Seneviratne, the spokesperson for the new year auspicious time committee. “After a lot of deliberations, we finalised the auspicious time through a majority decision.”

The majority set the dawn of the traditional Sinhala and Tamil new year on the night of 13 April.

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, 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.

In 2009, an astrologer was arrested after predicting that Mahinda Rajapaksa would be ousted as president and replaced by his prime minister.