The meeting to select a new Diyawadana Nilame for the Sri Dalada Maligawa in the historic Senkadagala town is scheduled to be held tomorrow (7) at the Kandy Buddhist Mandir. Accordingly, the election will be held under the patronage of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, and 267 officials including the Maha Sangha will be allowed to vote.
Since the Kandyan Kingdom fell into the hands of the British in 1815, 19 Diyawadana Nilames have been appointed so far. The Nilame who will be elected tomorrow will have the opportunity to serve in office until the year 2035.
The candidates who have submitted nominations for the post of Diyawadana Nilame this time are as follows
Current acting Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, Daminda Bandara Udurawana (Basnayake Nilame of Kataragama and Pasgama Devalayas in Kandy), A. W. S. Bandaranaike (Basnayake Nilame of Natha and Embekka Devalayas), Tilak Subasinghe (Professor, University of Peradeniya), Gamini Kaluhendiwala (Science Graduate), Roshan Priyadarshana (Businesswoman), Nanda Madugalle (Retired Army Colonel).
The Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte and Asgiri Maha Viharayas, 157 Trustees of Rajamaha Viharayas, 71 Divisional Secretaries and 29 Basnayake Nilames will vote for this election.
31 Devalayas belonging to the Kandyan Kingdom will be entitled to vote. Since women were not given the opportunity to vote in the election of the Diyawadana Nilame, the regional and district secretaries who were in the service of the former Kandyan Kingdom will not be allowed to vote.