Maha Sangha from Kandy organise Satyakriya opposite Sri Dalada Maligawa
 

by Jayasinghe Premaratne, Sanjaya Asela Maturata and L. S. Egodawita in Kandy

A cross-section of the Maha Sangha from the Kandy area launched a Satyakriya opposite the Maha Maluwa of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy yesterday demanding that the keys of the Sri Dalada Maligawa be handed over to Rohan Salinda Paranagama who is the legally appointed Acting Diyawadana Nilame.

They also expressed their vehement opposition to former Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyaratne alleging that he was trying to create a division among the Maha Sangha.

The Maha Sangha participating in the Satyakriya earlier paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic, held an adhistana pooja and went in procession to the Satara Maha Devalayas to invoke the blessings of deities.

Addressing the Maha Sangha present Ven. Walgowwagoda Wimalabuddhi Nayake Thera, Lekakhadhikari of the Malwatte Chapter said the term of office of former Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyeratne who held the post for 20 consecutive years ended on May 4. Thereafter, the Malwatte and Asgiriya prelates recommended three names for the appointment of the Acting Diyawadana Nilame and accordingly Rohan Paranagama was appointed to the acting post.

However, Mr. Wijeyaratne has handed over the keys of the Sri Dalada Maligawa to the Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter who is in-charge of the 'Thevava' ceremony without a proper knowledge about the provisions of the Vihara Devalagam Act.

According to the provisions of this Act the keys should be handed over to the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs by the outgoing Diyawadana Nilame in the presence of the Malwatta and Asgiriya prelates. In this instance the Malwatte Prelate had not been informed about the handing over of keys. He alleged that in this instance Mr. Wijeyaratne had acted in an arbitrary and stubborn manner.

The Malwatte Prelate after studying the legal position according to the Vihara Devalagam Act has requested that the keys of the Sri Dalada Maligawa be handed over to Acting Diyawadana Nilame Rohan Paranagama who is the legal appointee, but this request had not been fulfilled yet.

The request of the Maha Sangha participating in the Satyakriya is that Mr. Paranagama be allowed to function as the Acting Diyawadana Nilame without any obstruction as requested by the Malwatte Prelate.

Ven. Wimalabuddhi said if their request was not heeded, they would transform their satyakriya into a fast unto death.

Ven. Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma, Ven. Thibbotuwawe Medhankara, Ven. Pusselle Gunananda, Ven. Nehiniwela Piyadassi, Ven. Kulugammana Dhammaratana and Ven. Weralugashinne Dhammaratana Theras were among the leading members of the Maha Sangha participating in the Satyakriya. A large number of lay devotees assembled near the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises to support the 'Satyakriya' where several banners critical of the actions of the former Diyawadana Nilame were also displayed.

Meanwhile, Ven. Harankave Chandavimala Thera has threatened to burn himself to death at the Maha Maluwa premises if the keys of the Sri Dalada Maligawa was not handed over to the Acting Diyawadana Nilame within seven days.

Addressing a group of devotees who had come all the way to the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy yesterday in support of the Ven. Thera on Sathyakriya over the issue of the Temple Keys said that the keys should be duly handed over to the Acting Diyawadana Nilame Rohan Paranagama appointed by the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs.

The Monks continue with their protest which began yesterday.