Election for new Diyawadana Nilame at Sri Dalada Maligawa tomorrow

Colombo, Nov. 6 (Daily Mirror) - All arrangements have been finalized for the selection of a new Diyawadana Nilame for the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow (07).

The election will be held at the Senkadagala Buddhist Hall under the supervision of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs.

The officially announced candidates are:

Pradeep Nilanga Dela – Current Acting Diyawadana Nilame

Daminda Bandara Udurawana – Chief Custodian of the Kataragama Maha Devalaya and Pasgama Sri Natha Devalaya

A.W.S. Bandaranayake – Chief Custodian of the Natha Devalaya and Embekke Sri Kataragama Devalaya

Prof. Tilak Subasinghe – Department of Business Finance, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya

Gamini Kaluhendiwala – Science graduate, University of Peradeniya

Roshan Priyadarshana – Businessman and Chief Custodian of the Badulla Sonuththara Raja Maha Viharaya and Sathara Maha Devalaya

Nanda Madugalle – Retired Army Colonel

The new Diyawadana Nilame, who will serve until 2035, will be appointed in accordance with the Temple and Devalagam Ordinance.

According to the Department of Buddhist Affairs, 267 individuals are eligible to vote, including members of the Maha Sangha. Of them, 157 are clergy and lay custodians from royal temples within the former Kandyan Kingdom, 71 are Divisional Secretaries, and 29 are Chief Custodians of devalayas gazetted under the Temple and Devalagam Ordinance.

Although 31 devalayas are entitled to representation, candidates Daminda Bandara Udurawana and A.W.S. Bandaranayake each serve as custodians of two devalayas and may cast a vote for only one, reducing the total number of custodian votes to 29.

Access to the selection hall will be limited to official candidates and eligible voters, while those whose nominations have not been formally validated will not be allowed to remain inside.

Since the Kandyan Kingdom came under British rule, a total of 19 individuals have served as Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.