The Basnayake Nilame of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya has decided to auction around 70 percent of the gold items currently kept in the Devalaya’s safes and donate the proceeds to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund.
According to officials, gold items bearing images of deities will be excluded from the auction. The process is expected to be carried out under the supervision of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) to ensure transparency and accurate valuation.
The Basnayake Nilame also stated that gold donated by devotees in recent years will be handed over to the government through a transparent mechanism.
Addressing reports circulating on social media, Basnayake Nilame Thilina Madusanka said that guidance had been sought from the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs and emphasized that claims suggesting the use of 2,000-year-old gold items were false.
He added that the initiative is intended to support national rebuilding efforts while preserving the Devalaya’s religious and historical heritage.
