Basnayake Nilames’ Association condemns false propaganda ahead of key elections

By Shane Seneviratne   

The Basnayake Nilames’ Association has expressed concern about  the derogatory propaganda campaign against them, targeting the upcoming  office bearer election of Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa. They pointed out  that this false propaganda has been much to their anxiety and pain of  mind.   
Secretary of the All Ceylon Basnayake Nilames’ Association  J.M.S.P.B. Jayasundara in a press release said the conspiracy is being  hatched to bring disrepute to the Basnayake Nilames of 31 historic  Devalas in the country.  a
“The election of Diyawadana Nilame of Sri Dalada Maligawa  and that of the Basnayake Nilames of several Devalas are to be held this  year. With this in view, a false propaganda levelling baseless  allegations through the social media against the Basnayake Nilames has  been launched to tarnish their image.”   
“We suspect that a conspiracy is being hatched to create a wave of an anti-Buddhist campaign during the exposition of the Sacred  Tooth Relic on the request of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The  law of the country is equally applicable to the public and the Basnayake  Nilames. Therefore, legal action could be taken against corruption and  malpractice of the Basnayake Nilame’s, if any, and the Basnayake  Nilame’s Association would cooperate to it,” he said.