The election to appoint the new Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy is scheduled to take place this afternoon (7th of November ).
The election meeting will commence at 2.00 p.m. at the Kandy Buddhist Balamandala Hall under the supervision of Gamini Senarathna, Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs.
A total of seven candidates are in the fray for the prestigious post this year. They include the current Acting Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela; Chief Custodian of the Kataragama Maha Devalaya and Pasgama Sri Natha Devalaya, Daminda Bandara Udurawana; and Chief Custodian of the Natha Devalaya and Embekke Sri Kataragama Devalaya, A.W.S. Bandaranaike.
The other candidates contesting are Professor Thilak Subasinghe of the Department of Business Finance, University of Peradeniya; Gamini Kaluhendiwala, a graduate of the same university; Roshan Priyadarshana, Chief Custodian of the Badulla Sonutthara Rajamaha Viharaya and Sathara Maha Dewalas, as well as a businessman; and retired Army Colonel Nanda Madugalle.
According to the Department of Buddhist Affairs, 263 eligible voters, including members of the Maha Sangha, will cast their votes in the election.
Under the Vihara and Devalaya Ordinance, the term of office for a Diyawadana Nilame is ten years, meaning the candidate elected today will serve until 2035.
Since the Kandyan Kingdom came under British rule, 19 individuals have held the position of Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
Explaining the election procedure, Central Province Deputy Commissioner for Buddhist Affairs Anuruddha Bandara said, “If more than one nomination is received at the meeting, a vote will be held to select the most suitable candidate. According to the Act, the candidate must be a Sinhala Buddhist male between 18 and 70 years of age and must not have any criminal convictions.”
