Neranjan Wijeyeratne

Neranjan Wijeyeratne නෙරංජන් විජයරත්න
Diyawadana Nilame of Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy
In office 1985–2005
Personal details
Born	August 9, 1956 (1956-08-09) (age 55) Kandy Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	United National Party
Spouse(s)	Devika Wijeyeratne
Children	Mokshana & Navindra
Residence	Meeduma Walauwa, Rambukkana, Sri Lanka.
Alma mater	Royal College, Colombo
Occupation	Politics
Religion	Theravada Buddhism

Neranjan Priyadarshana Dullewe Wijeyeratne (Sinhala:නෙරංජන් ප්‍රියදර්ශන දූල්ලෑව විජයරත්න) (born 9 August 1956) (known as Neranjan Wijeyeratne) is a Sri Lankan politician. He was United National Party ex chief organiser for the Galagedara Electorate in Kandy District and former Diyawadana Nilame (Chief lay Custodian) of the Temple of the Tooth. He is the current Leader of the Opposition in the Kandy Municipal Council.

Early life

Born to Nissanka Wijeyeratne & Nita Dullewe Wijeyeratne he is the eldest of three brothers and a sister. His father and grandfather, Sir Edwin Wijeyeratne were prominent politicians who had become cabinet ministers and his brother Mano Wijeyeratne was Non-Cabinet Minister of Enterprise Development and Plantation Services. Neranjan Wijeyeratne was educated at Royal College, Colombo.

Diyawadana Nilame

Following his father's footsteps, he was elected Diyawadana Nilame (Chief lay Custodian) of the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy in March 1985 and served for a total of 20 years, until 2005, being re-elected once again in May 1995. Prior to being named the Diyawadana Nilame he served a term of 5 years as Basnayake Nilame (Lay Custodian) of Lankathilaka Maha Vishnu, Kandy. He was noted for his ability when the temple was restored following the LTTE bombing in 1998.^[1][2][3] He was also responsible for the construction of the famous 'golden fence' around Sri Dalada maligawa. He set up the Dalada Museum, which houses a historic collection of artifacts related to the Temple of the Tooth and Buddhism in Sri Lanka.^[4] The 'Temple of the Tooth Special Development Fund and Sri Dalada Maligawa Buddhist Welfare Fund was set up by him.^[5] Meanwhile, the Pallekale Thai Sri Lanka International Buddhist Institution with a modern conference hall that can accommodate up to 1000 guests was established by Neranjan Wijeyeratne while he was Diyawadana Nilame.^[6] During his tenure, he maintained close links with Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Myanmar religious dignitaries and played a major role in promoting Sri Lanka's Buddhist heritage.^[7][8]

Politics

After stepping down as Diyawadana Nilame following his second term, he went in to active politics. He is the current leader of the opposition in the Kandy Municipal Council.

Family

He is married to Devika Mediwake Daughter of Dr Laxminath & Chintha Mediwake, and Grand Daughter of William Gopallawa (former President of Sri Lanka) and has two children Mokshana & Navindra.

See also

• List of political families in Sri Lanka
• Edwin Wijeyeratne
• Nissanka Wijeyeratne

References

1. ^ More Details About The Attack Emerge. Sinhaya.com
2. ^ Why, why, why ?.Sunday Times, Retrieved on 1st February 1998.
3. ^ Art Attack. Archaeology, Retrieved on May / June 2001.
4. ^ A sacred display.Sunday Times, Retrieved on 28th November 1999.
5. ^ Adharmista rulers, the cause of drought.The Island, Retrieved on 5th September 2001.
6. ^ Pallekele land vested in Sri Dalada Maligawa. Daily News, Retrieved on 3rd August 2004.
7. ^ Thailand to donate golden casket.Buddhism Today, Retrieved on 9th September 2001.
8. ^ Buddhists leave for China.The Island, Retrieved on 18th May 2002.

External links

• The Wijeyeratne Ancestry
• Ratwatte Family Tree
• Gopallawa Family Tree
• Blessings from Sathya Sai Baba
• Numerology Destiny of Neranjan Wijeyeratne
• Developing Kandy city, my aim

Persondata
Name	Wijeyeratne, Neranjan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	9 August 1956
Place of birth	Kandy Sri Lanka
Date of death
Place of death