News
Mahanayakes call for a decorous Diyawadana Nilame election
View(s):By L. B. Senaratne
The Mahanayakes of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters have cautioned those seeking to contest the position of the Diyawadana Nilame (Chief Custodian) of the Sri Dalada Maligawa to avoid personal attacks on other contestants, since this would adversely affect the Maligawa and the clergy.
Already several candidates have announced that they hope to contest this prestigious position.
Three Basnayake Nilames, a university don, a police personnel member and one ex-judicial officer have announced their intention of coming forward on the appointed day for election.
In view of the keen contest, the Mahanayake of the Malwatta Chapter the Venerable Tibbotuwawe Sri Sumanagala Thera and the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter the Venerable Panditha Warakagoda Gnanaratne Thera have cautioned contestants and those who support them not to bring the Sri Dalada Maligawa and the clergy into disrepute and disrespect.
So far only one of the contenders has held a press briefing to outline his agenda and what he intends to do for the clergy: the Basnayake Nilame of the Kandy Kataragama Devale and also the Pasgama Sri Natha Devale, Daminda Bandara Udurawana has promised a fully-fledged Hospital for the clergy if he is elected to the position.
However, nominations have not been announced, and it is on the day of the election that the electoral body now comprising 159 individuals would know the names of contestants.
Originally the electoral body was 288, however 79 District Secretaries who are women have no right to vote, and the two Basnayake Nilames holding two Devales can have only one vote each.
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