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Seven pitch their credentials for lay custodian role at Dalada
View(s):By Shane Seneviratne
Seven candidates are in the fray for the Diyawadana Nilame role of the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth in Kandy) in the election to be held next Friday at the Senkadagala Bauddha Mandariya hall. The winner will be in office for 10 years.
Outgoing Diyawadana Nilame, Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara is recontesting, along with the Basnayake Nilame of the Shri Kataragama Devale Daminda Bandara Udurawana, Basnayaka Nilame of the Shri Natha Devale A.W.S.Bandaranayake, Gamini Kaluhendiwela, Nanda Madugalle, Prof Tilak Subasinghe and Roshan Priyadharshana are contesting.
Prof Subasinghe is attached to the Management Faculty of the Peradeniya University while Mr Kaluhendiwela is a Science graduate passed out from the Peradeniya University. Mr Priyadharshana who served the Police Department earlier is a businessman while Mr Madugalla is former Lieutenant Colonel of the Sri Lanka Army.
In the exercise, 261 are eligible to vote and include 157 chief incumbents and lay trustees of Raja Maha viharas coming under the purview of the Malwatte and Asgriya chapters as well as 29 Basnayake Nilames.
Mr. Dela Bandara said he is confident of victory, considering the work done during his term in office. He was first elected in 2005 at the age of 31 years, with 199 votes and was re-elected for the 2015 to 2025 period.
In 2005, the Maligawa had a monthly revenue of Rs. 80 million, but now it has increased to Rs 1 billion mainly due to proper transparent management, he said.
Daminda Bandara Udurawana, who hails from the family of a former Diyawadana Nilame from 1964 to 1975, H.B. Udurawana is another contender for the post.
Mr Udurawana, an old of boy of Trinity College, Kandy, was first elected as the Basnayaka Nilame of the Pasgama Natha Devale in 2017, re-elected uncontested in 2022, and appointed as Basnayake Nilame of the Shri Kataragama Devale in 2023.
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