| The Basnayake Nilames’ Association responding to last week’s news item titled, ‘Nilames in row over presidential poll campaign’, says they met at the Diyawadana Nilame’s residence to discuss about a meeting they were due to hold at the Presidential Secretariat.
They say they did not discuss about each Nilame offering Rs. 50,000 for the Presidential election campaign in favour of President Mahinda Rajapaksa or that the Diayawadana Nilame offered Rs. five million.
The Nilames’ Association, however says in view of the service of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the temples and the Perahera they decided to support the campaign of the President in a personal capacity. They say that the money was not from the temples and therefore did not violate the Vihara Devalagam Panatha.
Our response: The Basnayake Nilames’ response confirms that the official residence of the Diyawadana Nilame was used to discuss about supporting the election campaign in favour of President Rajapaksa.
The Basnayake Nilames also confirm that they decided to support the campaign by publishing a newspaper advertisement.
The Sunday Times reported the complaint sent to the Transparency International following confirmation that extending support to President’s election campaign was discussed at the official residence of the Diyawadana Nilame, which the association confirms. |
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