7 January 2025 07:56 am Views - 38
By Yohan Perera and Lasantha Niroshana Perera
Refuting the allegations made by the administrative body of Sabaragamuwa Saman Devalaya that the acting Basnayaka Nilame of the institution has been a political appointee, the Commissioner General Buddhist Affairs R. M. P. Ratnayake yesterday said that the appointment is legal and has been done in accordance with the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance.
Mr. Ratnayake told the media the term of the outgoing Basnayaka Nilame Migara Jayasundara could not be extended as per the Ordinance.
“It is only possible to grant two extensions to a Basnayaka Nilame as per the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance. Former Basnayaka Nilame Migara Jayasundara’s term ended on December 31, 2023. Accordingly, Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended his term till July 31, 2024, and then gave another extension for six months considering the fact that there were elections pending. The second extended term of Migara Jayasundara ended on December 31, 2024. He asked for an extension. I told him that there are no legal provisions for me to grant him another extension. Therefore, I nominated S. V. Chandrasinghe as the Acting Basnayaka Nilame as I thought he was fit for the job and the President approved it,” Mr. Ratnayake said.
Also, Mr. Ratnayake assured that a new permanent Basnayaka Nilame will be appointed next month. “A meeting will be held on February 11 to select a new Basnayaka Nilame,” he said.
Meanwhile, the administrative body of the Devalaya kept away from carrying out their duties for the second day yesterday. Meanwhile, Chief Kapu Mahathaya of the Devalaya Gayan Wijayanarayana said the administrative body will keep out of their work till the issue pertaining to the Acting Basnayaka Nilame is resolved. “We are ready to begin work if a new Basnayaka Nilame is appointed,” he said.
All Ceylon Basnayaka Nilame Circle former Secretary Udaya Bandara Emitiyagoda said the acting Basnayaka Nilame is not qualified to hold the post as he is more than 70 years old. “One cannot hold the post if that person is more than 70 years of age,” he said.
Acting Basnayaka Nilame S. V. Chandrasinghe said some have gone against him after he decided to look into certain issues pertaining to the Devalaya.
“The responsibility of the Devalaya Administrators is to carry out their duties. The real issue is the action of the administrators of the Devalaya. They should not keep away from their responsibilities talking of my disqualifications. I feel that someone is controlling the administrators,” he said.
“I was able to find out that the Devalaya holds 600 gem mining licences while it owns 8,000 acres of land. It has lost some of these lands because of encroachments. One has to look into these issues while it is essential to safeguard the reputation of Devalaya,” he added.
“I am a person who used my own funds for religious and social work. I will never use my position for petty gains,” he also said.