Main Activities of the Vihara Dewalagam Division

Registration of Temples.

When registering of temples , the application for registration issued  by the Department should be filled by the  Chief Incumbent The Department of the temple and by the Buddhist Affairs Coordinating Officer/ develpoment officer  to the relevant Divisional Secretariat with a brief report of the application for registration of a temple and further it should be forwarded after obtaining the recommendations of  the Lekakadhikari Thero of the relevant Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya and the Divisional Secretary together with a letter from the Most Venerable Maha Nayaka Thero  of the Nikaya Chapter for which the temple belongs, conforming the Chief Incumbency.

 For temples established after 10.09.2008 the approval after obtaining the approval of the Sacred Areas Division of the Ministry of Buddhasasana,Culture and Religious Affairs  the above mentioned application form for registration of temples should be forwarded  with the letter conforming the Incumbency. On receipt of the relevant documents a Temple Registration certificate will be issued under the signature of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs.

 

Acceptance of the position of Chief Incumbent.

In case of a change of the Chief Incumbent Thero after the registration of a temple , for example when the position of chief Incumbent is entrusted to another bhikku after the death of the earlier chief Incumbent Thero and when Chief Incumbent appointments are  made by the Most Venerable Maha Nayaka Thero, the letter  informing the acceptance of the Chief Incumbency will be issued to Most Venerable maha Nayaka Thero with copies to the Divisional Secretary, Regional Buddhist Affairs Office and the  Development and Information Divisions of the Department of Buddhist Affairs.

 

Custodian Appointments of Temples and Dewalayas managed under Section 4(1) of the Buddhist Temperalities Ordinance and Appointment of Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa including Basnayaka Nilames.

The Diyawadana Nilame of Sri Dalada Maligawa will be appointed under section 7 of the Buddhist Temperalitie ordinance No. 19 of 1931 and his period of appointment will be for 10 years .Further , under section 8 of the  said Ordinance the Basnayaka Nilame will be appointed and his period of appointment will for 5 years After the expiry of the official period of appointment of a Basnayaka Nilame there is the possibility to extend the period of office twice by His Excellency the President by one year each and after the expiry of the period of office persons will be selected and appointed to the posts of Diyawadana Nilame, Basnayaka Nilame by conducting an election.

When appointing a custodian, the appointments are made under section 10 of the Buddhist Temperealitie Ordinance and after forwarding the nomination of the chief Incumbent Thero of the, temple the appointment will be made for 05 years and the Incumbent chief Thero himself also could be appointed to the post of custodian.

Asecurrty deposit in cash should be deposited in the Department of Buddhist Affairs for the posts of Diyawadana Nilame, Basnayaka Nilame and for the post of custodian. There the security deposit amount that should be deposited will be 5 % of the total revenue vote of the half yearly Budget of the latest year of the relevant temple.

Obtaining Tentative Budget and Half Yearly Budget of places of worship managed under  section 4(1) of the Buddhist Temperalities Ordinance , preparation of Assets Registers and directing  for Auditing the Activities of the places of worship which are under custodians.

The Tentative Budget Report referred to by the Department in respect of places of worship managed under section 4(1) of the Buddhist Temparalities Ordinance should be prepared in respect of the coming year by the Diyawadana Nilame, Basnayaka Nilame and custodian of the relevant places of worship and after submitting it to the Department approval for it should be obtained. Further every six months of the year a half yearly Budget Report should be submitted to the Department inserting the actual income and expenditure.

Register of Assets will be prepared by the Department inserting information regarding the properties of places worship and copies of it will be handed over to the Department, Diyawadana Nilame Basnayaka Nilame and the custodian of the relevant place of worship. By preparing a register of assets.the handing over of articles, files etc. could be done with transparency to the persons who are appointed to those posts.

 By auditing the places of worship under custodians irregularities could be avoided and also get the opportunity to give necessary instructions and action to be taken to maintain administrative and financial activities of the place of worship with transparency. Further through the audit inspection there is the possibility to take necessary action to remove Diyawadana Nilame, Basnayaka Nilame or the custodian who neglects his responsibilities.

Supervising activities of depositing in banks the gratification money (panduru) in Till boxes at places of worship managed under section 4(1) of the Buddhist Temperalities Ordinance.

The officrs of the Department participate in counting and depositing in bank the cash (panduru) in till boxes at places of worship managed by section 4(1) of the Buddhist Temperolities Ordinance. The objective of this is to attend to counting and depositing in bank of the money in till boxes to be done in a formal and transparent manner and a copy of income reports of the money collected from till boxes will be filed in the Department too.

Activities Regarding leasing out of lands owned by places of worship.

When leasing out lands owned by places of worship,the leasing out is done according to  section 29 of the Buddhist Temperalities Ordince. The lease application issued by the Department of Buddhist Affairs should be completed and it should be submitted to the Department together with a copy of the plan of the relevant land and a copy of the lessee’s identity card. Accordingly leasing out will be done on the recommendations of Divisional Secretary’s Report of the Valuation Department and reports of other relevant institutions according to the purpose of the proposed leasing. The Deeds of leasing will be prepared under the signature of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs. Further, when leasing out lands, the rental of the lease will revised once in 05 years according to the market value of the area.

Appearing in courts on behalf of Commissioner General of Buddhist Affair.

When a case is being examined in courts about problems regarding the registration,chief Incumbency, lands etc. of a place of worship an officer of the Vihara Dewalagam Division authorized by the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs will appear before the relevant court on behalf of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs.

Other Activities.

 

1. Changing the position of Chief Incumbent of a Temple.
2. Releasing of funds deposited in banks by Bhikkus who have passed away, for the development activities of the relevant temple.
3. Granting approval for felling and sale of trees in lands belonging to temples and Dewalayas.
4. Giving recommendations for pooja Deeds.
5. Transferring activities of the ownership of vehicles owned by bhikkus who have passed away.
6. Notifying on request that properties purchased personally by bhikkus do not belonging to the Sanga.
7. Giving recommendations for Aranya Senasanas conducted in lands belonging to the Wild Life Department.
8. Giving recommendation for gem mining licences.
9. Duties relevant to relese of funds deposited as compensation at the Public Trustee’s Department in respect of lands owned by places of worship for development activities of the relevant places of worship.
10. Activities relevant to release of interest money of various Trusts deposited at the Public Trustee’s Department for administration activities and development activities of the relevant place of worship.