• Chief Kapuwa writes to Buddhist Affairs CG 

Chief Officiating Priest (Kapu Mahattaya) of the Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya in Devinuwara, R Thenabadu has requested the Buddhist Affairs Commissioner General (CG) to initiate an immediate investigation into allegations relating to the management of funds and bank accounts belonging to the historic Devalaya.In a letter dated 27 May 2026, which was seen by The Daily Morning, he has alleged that funds belonging to the Devalaya, which are deposited in current and fixed deposit (FDs) accounts at a State bank branch in Devinuwara, have been misrepresented by the current custodian (Basnayake Nilame) as his personal funds and the related bank accounts as his personal accounts. He said the accounts are maintained by the property Trustee with the approval of the CG, adding that the CG has already recognized that all movable and immovable properties belonging to the Devalaya are assets of the Devalaya itself.

Thenabadu further claimed that all monies received by the Trustee on behalf of the Devalaya are funds belonging to the Institution and are held in trust.

However, he alleged that the present Basnayake Nilame had misled a State-owned bank and the relevant officials by falsely claiming that the Devalaya’s accounts and funds are his personal property. He also pointed out that there is a court ruling affirming the public’s legal right to obtain information regarding accounts of trusts and funds belonging to Buddhist religious institutions.