Turning a new page of the history of the Kataragama Basnayaka Neelame Post, everything concerning the Devalaya and related activities will be carried out transparently hereafter, Kataragama Basnayaka Nilame Dishan Gunasekara said.
He was speaking to the Media at the Kataragama Basnayaka Nilame Walawwa recently.
The Basnayaka Nilame said that it is about 3 months since he has taken over the Basnayaka post and he has prepared a list of revenue and expenditure of the Maha Devalaya and distributed it to the public and the relevant institutions.
He said that the Devalaya received Rs.37,500,000 as the rent from the multinational Doole Company and another company grabbed part of the rent. Two PCR machines will be supplied to two hospitals using money and selling the gold items that the Devalaya received from devotees.
Many lands in Kataragama have been vested with Devalaya. But many tenants do not pay their taxes. I request them to pay the taxes, or they will have to pay arrears when they need to change ownership of the land, he said.
“Many economically sound devotees want to help people of low income groups in Kataragama. An electronic board will be set up from where they can get the information for the benefit of the Devalaya and the people.
Now the Government has started a project to attract tourists by developing the Detagamuwa Tank bund. If the residents started restaurants such as coffee houses with international standards on the bund, they will be a money spinners for the residents,” he said.
The Basnayake Nilame said that old restaurants will be replaced with new ones.
Mahadevalaya Administrative Secretary L.A.Wimalaratne organised the meeting.