D.G. Kumarage, a businessman from Kandy, was elected uncontested as the 11th Basnayake Nilame of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya a short while ago.

The election was held at the Moneragala District Secretariat this morning.

Kumarage will hold office as Basnayake Nilame (Lay Custodian) of the Devalaya for the next five years.

The post of the Basnayake Nilame was vacant after Shashindra Rajapaksa’s tenure expired in March. Yasasiri Kasthuriarachchi was appointed as acting Basnayake Nilame until the election was held.