By L B Senaratne

The time honoured tradition of meeting the head of state to report on the successful conclusion of the Kandy Esala Perahera was enacted at the President’s House in Kandy when the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela and devale nilames met President Ranil Wickremasinghe on Thursday.

Historically it was only the Diyawadana Nilame and the nilames of the four devales who met the head of state. However, during the period of former Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyeratne he decided that pitisara (provincial) devale nilames should also be included in the meeting.