By utilising Dalada Maligawa Funds Implement a program to uplift poor Buddhists - Mahanayaka Thera
 

by L.B. Wijayasiri in Kandy

Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatta Chapter said the people were of the view that Mahanayaka Theras of Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters were living luxury lives enjoying the Funds of the Dalada Maligawa.

But there was no truth in that since Mahanayake Theras were not getting any income from Maligawa Funds.

It was necessary to implement a program of work for the benefit and uplift of poor Buddhists and Buddhist places of worship with Dalada Maligawa Funds and resources under the directions of Mahanayaka Theras of Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters.

But it was unfortunate that such a program did not exist during the past, he said. The Mahanayaka Thera made those observations when Central Provincial Councillor and former Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake offered his book titled Sadaham Sithuwili" to the Mahanayaka Thera at the Malwatta Maha Viharaya, Kandy.

During the past, even Maha Sangha headed by Mahanayaka Theras, who were the co-Viharadhipathis of the Dalada Maligawa did not have an opportunity to work out and implement any program for the welfare and benefit of Buddhists.

He was not concerned about who would be elected as the next Diyawadana Nilame of Dalada Maligawa. But he would not be silent if the person who ever would be elected did not take steps to work out and implement a program of work through the office of Diyawadana Nilame for the uplift of poor Buddhist people and for the improvement of Buddhist Temples under the guidance of Mahanayaka Theras.

The office of Diyawadana Nilame should not be confined to one individual or one family and it should not be centred around one family.

The relevant act should be amended to reduce the period of term of office of the Diyawadana Nilame to 5 years and to prevent one person from getting elected more than twice, he added.