Neranjan Wijeyeratne
Encyclopedia
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
.
& 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.
, 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. Art Attack. Archaeology, Retrieved on May / June 2001. 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. A sacred display.Sunday Times, Retrieved on 28th November 1999. The 'Temple of the Tooth
Special Development Fund and Sri Dalada Maligawa Buddhist Welfare Fund was set up by him. 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.Pallekele land vested in Sri Dalada Maligawa. Daily News, Retrieved on 3rd August 2004. 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.
.
(former President of Sri Lanka) and has two children Mokshana & Navindra.
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
ex chief organiser for the Galagedara Electorate in Kandy District
Kandy District
Kandy District is a district of the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Its area is 1906.3 km². The capital of the district is Kandy.- Demographics :...
and former Diyawadana Nilame
Diyawadana Nilame
Diyawadana Nilame is the office of chief lay custodian of Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Formerly an office of the Royal household, today it remains a prestigious position, enriched with over two thousand years of history to safeguard and carry out ancient rituals for the most sacred Relic...
(Chief lay Custodian) of the Temple of the Tooth
Temple of the Tooth
Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is...
.
He is the current Leader of the Opposition in the Kandy Municipal Council
Kandy Municipal Council
The Kandy Municipal Council is the local council for Kandy, the second largest city and hill capital of Sri Lanka. The council was formed under the Municipalities Ordinance of 1865 and first met in 1866. The municipal council is the second oldest and largest local government authority in Sri Lanka...
.
Early life
Born to Nissanka WijeyeratneNissanka Wijeyeratne
Deshamanya Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne was a Sri Lankan politician, civil servant and diplomat. He was also the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth from 1975 to 1985...
& Nita Dullewe Wijeyeratne he is the eldest of three brothers and a sister. His father and grandfather, Sir Edwin Wijeyeratne
Edwin Wijeyeratne
Sir Edwin Aloysius Perera Wijeyeratne, KBE was a Sri Lankan politician, diplomat, and one of the founding members of United National Party. He was a Senator and Cabinet Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development in the government of DS Senanayake...
were prominent politicians who had become cabinet ministers and his brother Mano Wijeyeratne
Mano Wijeyeratne
Nissanka Manodha Wijeyeratne was Coordinating Secretary to the President, Chairman of Road Accidents Prevention Authority and Sri Lanka Freedom Party chief organiser for the Dedigama Electorate in Kegalle District he was former Member of Parliament from Kegalle District.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 ToothTemple of the Tooth
Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is...
, Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
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. Art Attack. Archaeology, Retrieved on May / June 2001. 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
Temple of the Tooth
Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is...
and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
in Sri Lanka. A sacred display.Sunday Times, Retrieved on 28th November 1999. The 'Temple of the Tooth
Temple of the Tooth
Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is...
Special Development Fund and Sri Dalada Maligawa Buddhist Welfare Fund was set up by him. Meanwhile, the Pallekale Thai
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
Sri Lanka International
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
Buddhist Institution with a modern conference hall that can accommodate up to 1000 guests was established by Neranjan Wijeyeratne while he was Diyawadana Nilame.Pallekele land vested in Sri Dalada Maligawa. Daily News, Retrieved on 3rd August 2004. During his tenure, he maintained close links with Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
, Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Thai
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
religious dignitaries and played a major role in promoting Sri Lanka's Buddhist heritage.
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 CouncilKandy Municipal Council
The Kandy Municipal Council is the local council for Kandy, the second largest city and hill capital of Sri Lanka. The council was formed under the Municipalities Ordinance of 1865 and first met in 1866. The municipal council is the second oldest and largest local government authority in Sri Lanka...
.
Family
He is married to Devika Mediwake Daughter of Dr Laxminath & Chintha Mediwake, and Grand Daughter of William GopallawaWilliam Gopallawa
William Gopallawa , MBE was the last Governor General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972 and became the first President of Sri Lanka when Ceylon declared itself a republic in 1972 and changed its name to Sri Lanka...
(former President of Sri Lanka) and has two children Mokshana & Navindra.
See also
- List of political families in Sri Lanka
- Edwin WijeyeratneEdwin WijeyeratneSir Edwin Aloysius Perera Wijeyeratne, KBE was a Sri Lankan politician, diplomat, and one of the founding members of United National Party. He was a Senator and Cabinet Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development in the government of DS Senanayake...
- Nissanka WijeyeratneNissanka WijeyeratneDeshamanya Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne was a Sri Lankan politician, civil servant and diplomat. He was also the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth from 1975 to 1985...