The Chief Lay Custodian of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, announced that the temple requires an annual income of 1.5 billion rupees ($5 million USD approx.) to sustain its operations and traditional rituals.
Speaking at an event in Pallekele, he emphasized that the temple must generate at least 5 million rupees daily to meet its rising financial obligations, describing the task as a significant challenge for the current year.
Dela highlighted the stark contrast in the temple’s financial landscape over the past two decades. In 2005, the annual income of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic stood at 80 million rupees, with 35 million rupees of that total coming from interest income.
“Today, we need 1,500 million (1.5 billion) rupees a year to maintain the Maligawa,” Dela said. “If we do not generate an income of 5 million rupees a day, it will be difficult to continue the operations of the temple. This has become a massive responsibility and a challenge this year.”
The Sri Dalada Maligawa, located in Kandy, is one of Buddhism’s holiest shrines and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The costs associated with its upkeep include the performance of daily rituals (Thevava), the maintenance of its historic architecture, staff wages, and the care of the temple’s elephants. (Newswire)