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Time to change laws on election of Nilames in temples, devales
Colombo, Oct. 24 (Daily Mirror) - The election of a Diyawadana Niame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa and Basnayake Nilames of other devales came into the limelight in Parliament today with the Opposition calling for the change of traditions enabling women Divisional Secretaries to vote at the polls held to elect such Nilames.
MP Chathura Galappaththi who moved an adjournment debate on the issue, said that the electors of a Diyawadana Nilame have declined to a minimal level as the majority of Divisional Secretaries in the Kandy District are women.
“Around 100 out of 176 Divisional Secretaries in the Kandy District are women, while there are only 76 male Divisional Secretaries.
"Accordingly, the electors of a Diyawadana Nilame have declined this time to the lowest level,” the MP said.
“I am not asking for an immediate change but for a change in the long run,” he added.
MP Rohini Kaviratne said there is nothing wrong in allowing women Divisional Secretaries to vote in the election of Nilames as Buddhism advocates for the rights of women.
Both MPs recalled that women have played a pivotal role in the history of Buddhism. They recalled that even Yasodara became a Bikkuni. They also recalled that Bikkunis like Uthpalawarnna and Sangamitta have played leading roles in the history of Buddhism and argued that there is nothing wrong in allowing women Divisional Secretaries to vote in the polls to elect Nilames.
Government MP Taruna Dissanayake, who responded said any changes to the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance should be done only after consulting the Mahanayaka theras.
“We have to seek the advice of the Mahanayaka theras to change these traditional laws. Actually, the Mahanayak Theras have also proposed progressive changes to the traditional laws and we should be able to pull something through pertaining to the election of Diyawadana Nilames,” he said.
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