Saman Devalaya on strike for second day today, but Govt. says appointment legal

• Acting Basnayake Nilame says some people against him because he is against some actions by Devale authorities  

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.