Most Nilames in Sri Lanka have become Dhanapatis after being appointed to Dewala as a Basnayaka Nilame. Instead of protecting many temples and dewala, they sold and ate the things of their gods without any shame. In the same way, from a few decades ago, the old gold ornaments in the temples of this country were stolen and then police checkpoints were installed. Not a single thief who broke the temples has been caught till now and according to our investigations, most of the Nilames from Diyawadana to Basnayaka Nilames are thieves.
While all this was going on, a group of thieves broke into the Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman temple’s offering warehouse in the middle of the night on the 8th last night, breaking through the roof, ceiling and iron mesh cover, and stole lakhs of rupees notes that had been collected from four offering boxes belonging to the temple and collected in sacks. It is reported to have gone.
This donation store has been built in a part of the official house belonging to Basnayake Nilame and there is also a 24-hour police checkpoint in front of the official house. If so, all this should happen based on the knowledge of the Basnayake Nilamewarya. Also, the security of the temple is guarded as well as CCTV. The theft took place while 60 cameras were in operation 24 hours a day.
There had been an attempt to commit this theft in this temple before, but it had been foiled. It is 4th and 10th of October 2022.
The problem is why the money was deposited like this from then till now. But Basnayake Nilame Migara Jayasundara Bandara of the Maha Saman Temple in Sabaragamuwa states that adequate police protection has not been provided despite asking for it.
However, its police officers have been transferred now. A special investigation has also been started. But it is seen that this incident was planned when compared with the incident of last October. Part III of the Buddhist Temple Temple Ordinance No. 19 of 1931 deals with their property. Article 24 states how income should be maintained. According to reports, the stolen money was found in the official residence of Basnayake Nilame. As per Section 24 (3) of the Act, he can keep Rs.500. Also, in accordance with section 43 of this Ordinance Act, 1956 bye-laws 318 have been published under the authority. Under the first section, necessary orders have been mentioned in relation to paduru boxes. Nothing mentioned in an Act can be violated by other circulars.
According to this, it appears that Basnayaka Nilameyaya has given the opportunity to commit this theft. This money is offered to God. He has knowingly put himself in danger. Before anything else, it is the responsibility of the police to charge him criminally under the Ceylon Penal Code. The provisions to do the same are clearly mentioned in the Ceylon Penal Code.
Accordingly, he has committed the offenses mentioned in articles 100, 101, 112, 113 a 162, 173, 174, 289, 290, 366, 379, 388, 392 a 408, etc. In order to prove the articles related to theft, it should be possible to find the stolen money. But it has been proved that he committed the mistakes mentioned in all the other clauses.