Pradeep Nilanga Dela wassecured re-election today (07) as the new Chief Lay Custodian of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic for a third term, securing a majority of 145 votes.

The meeting to appoint the Chief Lay Custodian of the Sacred Tooth Relic commenced at 2:30 PM today (07) at the Senkadagala Buddhist Centre in Kandy, presided over by the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, R. M. Gamini Seneviratne.

Before the meeting, Pradeep Nilanga Dela, Daminda Udarawana, A.W.S Bandaranayake, Professor Tilak Subasinghe, Gamini Kaluhendiwela, Roshan Priyadarshana, and Nanda Madugalle had publicly announced their candidacies for the post of Diyawadana Nilame.

However, since no voters came forward to propose the names of Professor Tilak Subasinghe, Gamini Kaluhendiwela, Roshan Priyadarshana, and Nanda Madugalle, they were not permitted to remain in the assembly hall.

Although Tharindu Dela's name was proposed and seconded, he later withdrew his candidacy.

The final candidates for the voting to select the Diyawadana Nilame were:Pradeep Nilanga Dela (Acting Chief Lay Custodian) Daminda Bandara Udurawana (Principal Custodian of the Pasgama Sri Natha Devalaya and Kandy Maha Kataragama Devalaya) and A. W. S. Bandaranayake (Principal Custodian of the Ambakke Sri Katharagama Devalaya and Kandy Maha Natha Devalaya).

Those eligible to cast votes included the Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwaththa and Asgiriya Chapters, the Lay and Clergy Custodians of the Rajamaha Viharaya temples of Kandy, Principal Custodians, and Divisional Secretaries.

Pradeep Nilanga Dela received 195 votes.

Daminda Udarawe received 50 votes.

A. W. S. Bandaranayake received 13 votes.

The total number of votes cast was 258.

There were 9 invalid or absent votes.

Following this election, Pradeep Nilanga Dela will hold the office of Chief Lay Custodian of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic for a period of 10 years, until 2035.

Nilanga Dela was first elected to the post in 2005 with 196 votes and was re-elected in 2015 with 205 votes.


With his third re-election, Nilanga Dela will enter history as the person who has held the office of Chief Lay Custodian of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic for the long