• Siam Sect’s Asgiri Chapter says Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance should be amended

The Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Buddhist Sect stated that all relevant parties are in agreement that female Divisional Secretaries (DS) too should be provided with the opportunity to cast their vote in the upcoming election of the Diyawadana Nilame (the lay custodian of the Temple of the Tooth) by making the necessary amendments to the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance (Vihara Devalagam Act).

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Secretary of the Supreme Sangha Council – Asgiri Chapter, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera said the exclusion stems from the time the Vihara Devalagam Act was drafted: “At that time, the District Revenue Officers (DRO) were males, and that is why only men were allowed to vote. Later, several changes were made to that position, and now the title has changed to DS. Females are currently serving as DSs, but the Act still specifies male officers.”

“We have been calling on successive governments to amend the Vihara Devalagam Act for many years now. In that amendment, we all agreed that female DSs should also be given the opportunity to cast votes. We were of the opinion that the Act should be amended in that way. But the Act has not yet been amended. Even now, what we say is that both male and female DSs should be allowed to cast votes to elect the Diyawadana Nilame.”

The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi was not available for comment.

Female DSs handle administrative duties related to lands, paddy fields, and properties belonging to the Temple of the Tooth and Devalayas, assets originally gifted by ancient kings and chieftains. However, a sizable number of DSs in the respective DS Divisions will not be able to cast their vote in the upcoming election, as the Act under which the election is held does not include provisions allowing females to vote.