Incident mars Basnayake Nilame elections

By L.B.Senaratne

An untoward incident marred the prestigious Maha Vishnu Basnayake Nilame election when a very senior Basnayake Nilame of the Kandy District was verbally abused outside the election hall. The abuse was directed at him for proposing the name of a candidate for the election. SSP Gamini Seneviratne had to intervene to prevent any breach of the peace.

The election was presided over by the Buddhist Affairs Commissioner General Chandraprema Gamage while National Heritage Minister Anura Bandaranaike was also present.

The election for the Maha Vishnu Devale Basnayake Nilame’s post was held at the Buddhist Affairs Deputy Commissioner’s office.
There were three contestants - Basnayake Nilame Mohan Panabokke, Mahiyangana Devale Basnayake Nilame Ranjith Amarasinghe and Buddhika Panabokke. The acting Basnayake Nilame of the Maha Vishnu Devale Mohan Panabokke was elected to the office of Basnayake Nilame by a majority of two votes out of the total of 26 votes.

In the first round of voting both Basnayake Nilame Panabokke and Basnayake Nilame Amarasinghe secured 13 votes each, while Buddhika Panabokke received no votes. Since the voting ended in a tie, a second vote had to be taken and Basnayake Nilame Panabokke received 14 votes while Basnayake Nilame Amarasinghe secured 12 votes with Buddhika Panabokke not receiving even a single vote.

After the announcement of the results, a person believed to be of a particular group, cast remarks on the Basnayake Nilame who proposed the name of one of the contestants.