Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela regarding a statement made by the Director General of the National Museum Department which implies that her Department did not receive proper support from the Sri Dalada Maligawa regarding the preservation of tusker Nedungamuwe Raja’s body has said this is incorrect.
In a letter to the Director General he has pointed out on March 7 this year, after the death of Raja that he had discussions with the elephant’s owner to provide the necessary state contribution and the contribution of the Sri Dalada Maligawa for the preservation of the body. Accordingly, he has stated in the letter that an amount of Rs.1,557,983 has been so far given by the Dalada Maligawa for this purpose.
In addition to this, the Diyawadana Nilame has informed in the letter that Dalada Maligawa has provided a 25 ton crane, a 10-wheeled lorry for transporting the elephant’s carcass and a JCB machine for other work.
In the letter, he has said that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had entrusted the task of preserving the Tusker Nedungamuwe Raja as a National Treasure to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious Affairs and Cultural Affairs.
However, the Diyawada Nilame said the Dalada Maligawa had taken prompt action to allocate the sum mentioned by the Department for the preservation of the elephant.
In the letter he has stated that the statement of the Director General is harmful to the image of the Dalada Maligawa.
