News

Basnayake Nilames galore

Kotte temple killings spark crackdown on unofficial devale heads
By Damith Wickremasekara

Officially appointed Basnayaka Nilames- Chief custodians of devales (temples), have decided to crackdown on bogus Nilames functioning in the country’s devales. The All-Island Basnayaka Nilames Association has decided to seek legal action against those who falsely claim to be Basnayaka Nilames and expose them for the charlatans they are.

The Association’s President Gemunu Thilaka Bandara Walisundara, who is also the Basnayaka Nilame of the Natha Devale in Kandy, said they had decided to initiate action after police arrested a Basnayaka Nilame for his involvement in the murder of two Buddhist monks at the Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya.

“We have found that the suspect taken into custody was not an officially appointed Basnayaka Nilame, but a person who has conducted four peraheras at the Vapikaramaya temple in Galgamuwa in the Kurunegala district,” he said.

He said that, according to the Buddhist temporal laws, there are only 32 Basnayaka Nilames and a Diyawadana Nilame. “We have information that there are a number of persons who claim to be Basnayaka Nilames, and gain various benefits. We want to ensure that nobody makes false claims and misuse the position,” he said.

He said that, in certain instances, politicians with the connivance of temple clergy have appointed themselves as Basnayaka Nilames.

“Many people do not know whether they are genuine Basnayaka Nilames or not, and therefore, are afforded their due place. In some instances, there have been various corruption charges against these dubious Basnayake Nilames”, he said.

He said, last week, they found that one of the main temples in Tissamaharamaya had set up a Devala and appointed a Basnayaka Nilame, who is the owner of a beef stall. “We will be filing action against him soon, and have also informed the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs about the matter’, he said.

To be a Basnayaka Nilame, the person should be a Sinhala Buddhist, owner of moveable and immovable property, between the age of 21 and 70 years, cannot be a debtor to a bank or have a mortgage against his property, shouldn’t have been convicted of theft, fraud, forgery or perjury and not be holding political office. The duration of office is a maximum of five years, which could be extended by the President for a maximum of two more years.

However, the only exception was when the Uva province Chief Minister Sashindra Rajapaksa was appointed Basnayaka Nilame for the Kataragama devale. The former Basnayaka Nilame of the Embekke Devale, Sudantha Senanayake told the Sunday Times that, there were persons without the requisite qualifications, holding such posts.

He said that, there were a number of temples which have established devales and appointed Basnayaka Nilames, when they had no authority to do so. He also said that some persons have set up their own Devales and appointed Basnayaka Nilames to conduct peraheras. “There may be criminals and underworld members among them,” he added.

He further added that, in some instances, the costume of the Basnayaka Nilame too was being misused . “We have seen this in tourist hotels as well,” he added. Buddhist Affairs Commissioner Chandraprema Gamage told the Sunday Times that, according to the Buddhist Temporalities Act, there could only be 32 Basnayaka Nilames, and that action would be taken against those who falsely claim to be Basnayaka Nilames.

He said that genuine Basnayaka Nilames have been issued identity cards specifying the period they shall hold office.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
Hambantota to be free port
Prices skyrocket ahead of Avurudhu
Switch off lights, close those taps
Govt. mini-budget: Huge increases in vehicle prices
Tax hikes come ahead of crucial IMF talks
No arrests yet on failed abduction of 11-year-old Visakha schoolgirl
CJ worried over conduct of some lawyers
Sirikotha attack: Guilty members face the axe
No-faith motion alleges political bias in public sector recruitments
FUTA to strike to ‘safeguard state universities’
Army bigwigs deny charges
‘Lost’ shrub frog turns up after 100 years
Ex-AG Mohan Peiris as witness: Court will decide on May 17
Malabe asks for second chance as govt. doctors call for its closure
Soldiers try to force Kugan’s wife to sign Sinhala document: MP
Take only a pinch of salt to avoid strokes, says top doctor
Basnayake Nilames galore
Media groups call for action against Mervyn
Marginal improvement at this year’s O/L exam results
Adopt farming methods that make best use of water
Sri Lanka and the United States: Post-Geneva repairs
Dissatisfied commuters of private bus service on the up
Villagers angry over armed cadres still at large
‘I survived because of my political contacts’
Hot days are here to stay, at least for a while longer
Boy’s body exhumed after four years
Forcing India out of the democratic closet
Signs of Washington's waning influence in Asia

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2012 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution