If I go to jail, Mahanayake Theras too, will be in trouble’ – Diyawadana Nilame!

 Friday, 12 June 2015 05

“Accounts of Dalada Maligawa are sent to the Buddhist affairs commissioner with the signatures of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Mahanayake Theras. I do not intimidate them to obtain their signatures. Therefore, they too, have a responsibility about the accounts of Dalada Maligawa. That responsibility is not mine alone. If I do something wrong, they can correct me. But, both have signed to say the accounts are correct. They too, should be questioned about that,” said Diyawadana Nilame Pradeepa Nilanga Dela Bandara to a group of journalists loyal to him.

Since Asgiriya Mahanayake Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera had been ailing before his passing recently, new Mahanayake Galagama Attadassi, the Anunayake at the time, had signed on behalf of him. This is why Attadassi Thera had expressed displeasure, when prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called on him, over the FCID’s questioning of the Diyawadana Nilame.

Although auditors of Dalada Maligawa had refused to sign the accounts report, the Diyawadana Nilame had concealed it and got the signatures of the two Mahanayake Theras fraudulently by making use of their lack of understanding about accounts matters. This has been confirmed in an inquiry by the office of the prime minister. Since there are criminal charges against him, it is an insult to his position that the incumbent is going to contest again for the position of Diyawadana Nilame, say concerned parties.