Celebrating Tradition and Culture: The Annual Handover Ceremony at Janadipathi Mandiraya – By L.B.Senaratne
The traditional handing over the report after the completion of the Kandy Esala Ritual ( though it is called the Pageantry of Sri Lanka ) tot he Head of State since 1753 was continued by handing over the report to President Ranil Wickrmasinghe at Janadipathi Mandiraya which was the Manor House of P:ilamatalwa Adige turned over to house the Governors of Ceylon then by the British.
It was a colorful ceremony with decorum and dignity.
Diyawadana Nilame reading the reprot
The President Ranil Wickramasinghe stood on the steps of the Jandiapathi Mandiriya where all Heads of State had stood to receive the report from the Diyawadsana Nilame ( custodian of the Sacred Tooth Relic ) after the completion of the Kandy Esala Perahera Ritual performed as a offering to the Sacred Tooth Relic .
The Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela with the Basnayake Nilmes of Devales ( the abode of Gods and Goddess ) came in format to present themselves before the President Ranil Wikcramasinghe.
The spouses of the Nilames accompanied separately.
The commencement was the receiving of the report of the Diyawadana Nilame at the entrance on the steps of the Janadipathi Mandiraya once the Manor House of Pilamatalawa Maha Adikaram which had been the spot that the report had been handed over the years
The address by His Excellency the President.
Then it was a distribution of awards for the artistes who captured thousands of devotees lined up to pay reverence to the Golden Karandujwa, with their resplendent dancing and traditional music on drums and flutes.
Then the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela read his report in the main Hall where Governors, Governor Generals’ and Presidents have heard and commented on the reports of the Diyawadana Nilame’s over the years
President Ranil Wickramasighe addressed the invited audience, of Government Officials, Nilames, their spouses and special invitees.
The spouses of the Nilames
Feeding of a Tusker and a common Photograph of the Nilames concluded the event.
From the commencement it was color blended by the greenery around this magnificent building built on a Walauwa ( Manor House )., by the British to install their Governor Brownrigg.
The Nilames from left to right the Basnayake Nilame of ,Pathini Devale Lal Hemantha Herath, Kataragama Devale Dimunda Udurawana, Sri Vishnu Devale Mahendra Ratwatte, Natha Devale A.M.S.Bandranaike.
