The election to appoint the Diyawadana Nilam, the lay guardian of the Sri Dalada Thera, was held at the Senkadagala Buddhist Mandir in Kandy today (07) afternoon under the patronage of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs R.M. Gamini Seneviratne. Pradeep Nilanga Dela, who was acting as the Diyawadana Nilam, was re-elected to the post.
It was announced in advance that Pradeep Nilanga Dela, Daminda Udurawana, A.W.S. Bandaranaike, Mahacharya Thilak Subasinghe, Gamini Kaluhendiwela, Roshan Priyadarshana and Nanda Madugalle would be contesting for the post of Diyawadana Nilame this time.
However, as none of the voters came forward to propose the names of Mahacharya Tilak Subasinghe, Gamini Kaluhendiwela, Roshan Priyadarshana and Nanda Madugalle, they were not allowed to remain in the assembly hall.
Out of the total number of votes cast, Pradeep Nilanga Dela received 195 votes, Daminda Udurawana received 50 votes and A.W.S. Bandaranaike received 13 votes.
Accordingly, the former Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela will have the opportunity to hold the post of Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy for another 10 years until 2035.
With his appointment as Diyawadana Nilame for the third time, his name will go down in history as the person who has held the post of Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa for the longest period.
Pradeep Nilanga Dela, who was re-appointed as Diyawadana Nilame, with his family members