A newly constructed golden casket to house the Sacred Tooth Relic has been offered at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, and the temple’s senior custodians have published a detailed breakdown of its composition to counter what they describe as false information circulating in public, Hiru News reported.
The figures
According to a report by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, cited in the custodians’ letter, the casket weighs 86.04 kilograms in total, comprising:
- 65.224 kg of gold
- 1.480 kg of assorted gemstones
- 20.822 kg of auxiliary materials used in soldering
The figures were set out in a letter to the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs signed by Tibbotuwave Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, Mahanayake of Malwatte, Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana Thera, Chief Prelate of Asgiriya, and Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela. The letter states that its purpose was to clarify false information circulating in society about the new casket.
The offering
The offering ceremony took place on 8 September 2026, attended by the chief prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters, the chief custodian and the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, and conducted according to traditional rites.
The casket was funded in full by Kamantha Amarasekara, a resident of Ethul Kotte, together with family members and well-wishers, and was made with the approval of the chief custodians.
What happens to the old casket
The previous gold-plated silver casket is to be stored securely inside the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic to preserve its identity. Hiru News describes it as of exceptional historical value, initiated under King Wimaladharmasuriya II and completed during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha — placing its construction across the late 17th and 18th centuries.
The letter notes that under the 1853 Ordinance, protection of the Sacred Tooth Relic and all rituals and rights connected to it are vested in the chief prelates of both chapters and the Diyawadana Nilame. The custodians said the offering was intended to affirm reverence for the relic before the people of the world.
Still not reported
Hiru News does not say what the false claims circulating publicly actually were, which is the reason the letter was written and the most significant gap in the account. It does not give the casket’s monetary value, name the craftsmen, say how long it took to make, or state whether the relic has already been transferred into it. Nor does it report whether the Department of Buddhist Affairs or the Government had any role in approving the change. No other verified newsroom had filed on the letter at the time of writing.
