Kataragama Basnayake Nilame asks Govt. permission to sell a portion of gold offered by devotees

• Government is yet to give the green light to the move 

The Basnayake Nilame of the Kataragama Devala had sought the government’s permission to sell a portion of gold received as offerings from the devotees and handover a portion of the revenue to the state, Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi has revealed. The Minister had come out with this information in response to a question raised by MP Ajith P. Perera in Parliament.

However, the Minister has said the government is yet to give the green light to the move. The usual practice according to the Minister is that a portion of the jewellery is kept in a vault belonging to a state bank while the rest is kept at the Devala office.