Commissioner to act on Kataragama Devala financial irregularities

Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devala Basnayaka Nilame Dishan Gunasekara said that he will submit a report to the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs today (14), asking him to find out about the financial irregularities that have happened in Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Dewala and prepare a proper system to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Pointing out that the public money and gold items received by the Dewala cannot be obtained illegally by the kapu mahattayas, he said that in the past money amounting to lakhs of rupees and gold ornaments have been taken by the custodians (kapu mahattayas). He also stated that this report will be submitted requesting to prepare a proper system in such a way where it will not be possible for the kapu mahattayas to take away the money and gold received by the Devala under the guise of traditions, customs and rituals.

Accordingly, Gunasekara, requested that if a law is brought to deal with this type of a situation, it should be done to prepare a system at least by consulting the Attorney General and also pointed out that the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs has the ability to do so, and that he should act according to the Vihara Devalagam Act.

Pointing out that all types of offerings including money and other valuable items such as gold donated by the devotees who come to Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devala are taken by the kapu mahattayas, the Basnayaka Nilame said that the money received by the Dewala is the money that should be legally owned by the government. Therefore, if a proper system is not prepared regarding the money and gold received by the Devala, the government will lose a lot of money every year, he emphasised.

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