Election to appoint Kataragama Basnayake Nilame tomorrow

BY K.D. DEVAPRIYA

The 11th election to appoint a new Basnayake Nilame for the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya would take place today (28) at 10 am at the Moneragala District Secretariat.

Meanwhile several investigation teams have been deployed in the Moneragala District following newspaper reports claiming that attempts were underway by certain persons to give millions in bribes to divisional secretaries and the custodians of temples who are eligible to vote at the election.

Divisional Secretaries of the District numbering eleven together with the chief incumbents of the Kataragama Abinawaramaya, We di h i t i k a n d a , Sella Kataragama, and Kirivehera Raja Maha Viharaya, acting Basnayake Nilame’s of the Kataragama Devalaya and Bibila Kotabowa Kataragama Devalaya were those eligible to vote.

The earlier method of choosing the Basnayake Nilame which was a natural succession method was changed during the British rule and a voting system was established in 1931 with the initial voting rights given only to the four temples in the area.