The Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya has decided to auction around 70% of the gold items stored in its secure vaults and donate the proceeds to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, Basnayake Nilame Thilina Madushanka said.
He noted that gold items bearing images of deities will be excluded from the auction, which will be conducted under the supervision of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority.
Madushanka clarified that only gold offerings made by devotees in recent years will be handed over to the government through a transparent process, adding that advice has been sought from the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs.
He also dismissed reports claiming that 2,000-year-old gold would be used, describing such claims as false. (NewsWire)