Nilanga Dela elected new Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth

Nilanga Dela has been elected as the new Diyawadana Nilame (chief lay custodian) of the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy a short while ago.

Dela received 195 votes, while A.M. Daminda Bandara Udurawana, the Basnayake Nilame of the Kandy Sri Maha Kataragama Devalaya, obtained 50 votes, and A.W. Sarath Bandaranayake, Basnayake Nilame of the Kandy Sri Natha Devalaya and Ambekke Kataragama Devalaya, received 13 votes.

The term of office for a Diyawadana Nilame is 10 years.

The outgoing Acting Diyawadana Nilame, Pradeep Nilanga Dela, has already served 20 years in two terms in this position, with his tenure officially ending last August.

Candidates contesting for the post this time included Acting Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, A.M. Daminda Bandara Udurawana, A.W. Sarath Bandaranayake, Roshan Priyadarshana (Custodian of the historic Sonuththara Raja Maha Viharaya and Chief Lay Custodian of the Four Devalas), Inidika Ruwan Pathirana (former custodian of Warakapola Dorawak Sri Natha Devalaya), Gamini Kaluhendivela (graduate of the University of Peradeniya), Professor Tilak Subasinghe, and retired Army Colonel Nanda Madugalla, Chairman of the Weera Madugalla Foundatio