It was all a Colourful ceremony

By L.B.Senaratne

It was all a Colourful ceremony,  when the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela and the Devale Nilames met  President Ranil Wickramasignhe to hand over the report that the Kandy Esala Ritual  was concluded ,  the offering for the Sacred Tooth Relic.
The commencement was the receiving of the report of the Diyawadana Nilame at the entrace on the  steps of the Janadipathi Mandiraya once the Manor House of Pilamatalawa Maha Adikaram which had been the spot that the report had been handed ovefr the years  t
Then it was a distribution of awards for the artistes who captured thousands of devotees lined up to pay reverence to the Golden Karandujwa, with their resplendent dancing and traditional music on drums and flutes.
The Diyawadana Nilame headed the Basnayake Nilame’s of Kandy Disrict bringing with him the report of the conclusion of the Esala Ritual.
Then the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela read his report in the main Hall where Governors, Governor Generals’s and Presdients have heard and commented on the reports of the Diyawadana Nilame’s over the years
President Ranil Wickramasighe addrfessed the invited audience, of Government Officials, Nilames, their spouses and special invitees.
Feeding of a Tusker and a common Photograph of the Nilames concluded the event.
From the commencement it was colour blended by the greenery around this magnificent building built on a Walauwa., by the Brtish to install their Governor Brownrigg.