It is very significant that he had been the Basnayake Nilame in two main Dewalaya in Sri Lanka simultaneously. As mentioned above, the experience he gained on perahera festivals is immense from being the Basnayake Nilame of Ruhunu Katharagama Dewalaya and Sabaragamuwa Saman Dewalaya which also conduct annual perahera that are being second only to the Esala Perahera Festival in Kandy.
With this experience, Mr. Pradeep Nilanga Dela was elected as the 19th Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic on 31st July 2005. He was fortunate enough to be elected as the 19th Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic consecutively for the second time in 2015 and for the third time in 2025 as well. This becomes historic as he is the only Diyawadana Nilame in the history of The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic to be appointed to the post three times consecutively.
The infinite service done by Mr. Pradeep Nilanga Dela as the Diyawadana Nilame according to his manifesto while understanding the responsibility as the Chief Custodian is well- respected and esteemed by the general public.
It is very significant that he had been the Basnayake Nilame in two main Dewalaya in Sri Lanka simultaneously. As mentioned above, the experience he gained on perahera festivals is immense from being the Basnayake Nilame of Ruhunu Katharagama Dewalaya and Sabaragamuwa Saman Dewalaya which also conduct annual perahera that are being second only to the Esala Perahera Festival in Kandy.
With this experience, Mr. Pradeep Nilanga Dela was elected as the 19th Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic on 31st July 2005. He was fortunate enough to be elected as the 19th Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic consecutively for the second time in 2015 and for the third time in 2025 as well. This becomes historic as he is the only Diyawadana Nilame in the history of The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic to be appointed to the post three times consecutively.
The infinite service done by Mr. Pradeep Nilanga Dela as the Diyawadana Nilame according to his manifesto while understanding the responsibility as the Chief Custodian is well- respected and esteemed by the general public.
Wanigasekara Wanasingha Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Pradeep Nilanga Dela was born on 28th October 1973 at Godella Walawwa as the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Sarathchandra. The walawwa was situated in a beautiful village called “Dela” in Rathnapura District. Mr. Pradeep Nilanga’s mother served as a teacher for a long period; after her retirement she was enrobed. Currently, she lives in Ashoka Meditation Monastery in Pelawatta.
He started schooling in 1978 at Thurston College, Colombo and his secondary education was obtained at Nalanda College, Colombo in 1980. He was awarded the Best Nalandian in 1992 and was a Head Prefect at Nalanda College. In addition, he has been a student activist by leading many school associations such as Commerce Society, Literature Association and Buddhist Association.
Being interested in traditional dancing styles such as Kandyan, Low Country (Pahatharata) and Sabaragamuwa, he was able to gift many victories to his school from a number of dancing competitions including all-island competitions.
He was selected to the Sabaragamuwa University after Advanced Level examination and he was awarded the “Nalanda Keerthi Sri” title in 2005 for the recognition and respect he has earned for his school.
The honorable service he has done as the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of The Sacred Tooth Relic is very commendable.
It is evident that the Temple of Tooth Relic is developed in a way that to be suited to the present day, but the development is made keeping its historical value and sacredness under the constant guidance of the Chief Incumbents of the Malwathu and Asgiri chapters, their committee members and of Maha Sangha; and thus, it is worshipped and respected by both local and foreign devotees. Further, he has sufficed to improve Kandy Esala Perahera Festival to the current standard by preserving its historical Kandyan traditions.
Moreover, he is engaged in developing temples in rural areas, distributing monetary and material funds to the poverty-stricken public in Sri Lanka, awarding scholarship programs to children of under privileged families, teaming with the Malwathu and Asgiri chapters and being the first to distribute donations to those who are affected by natural disasters, also attending to the welfare of the mahouts taking care of the domestic elephants and the traditional artisans.The massive social project “Ape Sathkaraya” conducted by the Temple of Tooth Relic was also a concept of Dr. Pradeep Nilanga Dela, the honarabe Diyawadana Nilame.
