In a move unprecedented in history, the Basnayake Nilame (Chief Custodian) of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya (Temple) has decided to auction off 70% of the gold ornaments piously offered to the Kataragama God by devotees. The proceeds from this grand auction, which is being conducted under the label of the “Fund for the Reconstruction of Sri Lanka,” are reportedly slated for donation to the government. Critics point out that the JVP-led government’s inability to manage the nation’s economy post-election, resorting finally to using divine property to cover state expenses, is a serious precursor to a major religious and social crisis.
This decision has caused widespread unrest among devotees, fueled by the belief that repurposing or selling an offering made to the deity will invoke a “divine curse.” Basnayake Nilame Thilina Madhusanka stated that the decision excludes the 2,000-year-old historical gold artifacts, and the recently received gold items will be sold under the supervision of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority. However, despite the rhetoric of “transparency,” opponents accuse the government of misusing temple property to fill the state’s empty coffers—a deplorable attempt to mask the JVP’s economic failure.
It is particularly ironic that a government, which has failed to provide adequate relief to people affected by the recent ‘Ditta’ storm, is now setting its sights on temple safes. Following the moral outrage caused by the distribution of books with obscene website links to 6th-grade students in the education sector, the JVP administration has now introduced a culture of plundering the resources of religious sites, shattering the faith of devotees. This process, allegedly with the “approval” of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, raises fears that other major temples and shrines across the island may face a similar fate for their gold assets in the future.
The JVP, which promised to “eliminate corruption and rebuild the country” before coming to power, is now attempting to fill its stomach not only with the common man’s tax money but also with the God’s gold chain, a move that has drawn intense public disgust. Civil society organizations are urgently emphasizing that this auction must be halted immediately, and the divine property should be used for the development of the Devalaya itself, in accordance with the devotees’ wishes.
