Recently, our media team visited the Soragune Kuda Kataragama Devalaya in Haldummulla, Bandarawela in the Badulla District of Sri Lanka at the request of the people to inquire into the plight of the villagers and the alleged frauds, corruption and irregularities taking place there.
There are many problems faced by the people of Nindagam due to the big problems in the administration of the temples as well as the weaknesses in the administration. The bail team has been able to uncover with evidence that the Basnayake Nilame has committed various frauds and corruption.
Although requests have been made to the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs to resolve these issues, they have not been resolved for many years. Our team has given evidence that the private secretary of the Basnayake Nilame of the Devalaya had taken action to interfere in the activities of the bail team who had gone there and had also intimidated a large number of people and removed him from the place.
However, under the common law, the police are obliged to take action against the Basnayake Nilame and there is a possibility of filing criminal charges against the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs for neglecting his duties.
Due to the fault of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, a number of frauds and corruptions are already taking place in several temples and shrines from the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
The competent authority for decision making in relation to administration is the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, and it is the duty of the police to prosecute offenses under sections of the Sri Lankan Penal Code, including fraud, corruption, irregularities and inciting disputes. Also, the Haldummulla Police Station has the power to file a case against the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs if police investigations reveal that he has not acted as the competent authority.
Failure to fulfill a statutory duty, to allow people to be provoked into violating the peace, to not knowingly prevent religious cults from being harmed, to allow the peaceful life of the people to be harmed, to prevent them from doing their duty as a public servant, to deprive people of their property The Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs can be prosecuted under a number of clauses, such as aiding and abetting and committing a number of wrongdoings knowingly. One complaint made to him and an answer received are sufficient for that.
People say, “Director General of Buddhist Affairs, these people are not paying you to act like puppets.” We will be releasing videos provided by the public in the near future.
