The election process for the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa and the Basnayake Nilames of other devales came under discussion in Parliament today, as the Opposition called for reforms to allow women Divisional Secretaries to vote in such elections.
Raising an adjournment debate on the issue, MP Chathura Galappaththi said the number of eligible electors for the Diyawadana Nilame election has dropped significantly because most Divisional Secretaries in the Kandy District are now women.
He noted that out of 176 Divisional Secretaries in the district, around 100 are women, leaving only 76 male officers eligible to vote. “Accordingly, the number of electors for the Diyawadana Nilame has fallen to the lowest level this time,” the MP said. “I am not calling for an immediate change, but for a reform in the long run,” he added.
MP Rohini Kaviratne supported the proposal, stating there is nothing wrong in granting women Divisional Secretaries the right to vote in Nilame elections, as Buddhism upholds gender equality. She highlighted the vital role women have played in Buddhist history, recalling figures such as Yasodara, Uthpalawanna, and Sangamitta Theri, who were pioneers in promoting Buddhism.
Responding to the debate, Government MP Taruna Dissanayake said that any amendments to the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance should be made only after consulting the Mahanayaka Theras.
“We must seek the guidance of the Mahanayaka Theras when changing traditional laws. In fact, the Mahanayakas themselves have proposed progressive reforms, and we should work towards implementing some of these, especially concerning the election of Diyawadana Nilames,” he said.
