I refer to Mr. K. Gunasekera’s letter on the above subject (The Island 8/11/01). According to him Dr. G. P. Malalasekera had come to the conclusion that the Tooth Relic is genuine on the findings of research done by him. We would be very thankful to K. G. if he reveals for our information the facts or the basis on which he came to this conclusion. Otherwise we will be in the dark and unable to dispel our doubts.

Dr. G. P. M. discounted popular beliefs in Sinhalese Buddhism when he found the evidence unsatisfactory and unverifiable e.g., Buddha’s visits to Ceylon, foot-print at Adam’s Peak, the Bhikkuni Order is defunct and cannot be restored, etc. So it is imperative that we know the reasons he cited in favour of the authenticity of the Tooth Relic.

The story of the Tooth Relic as recorded in the Datavamsa and Dalada Sirita are works of the medieval age. It reeks with miracles and super-normal happenings which defy the laws of nature and are not repeatable for verification.

The story that rain falls when the relic is exposed is a myth not verifiable and repeatable. Actually the custodians take out the tooth only after shrewdly observing rain clouds at the tail end of a drought.

The Dalada Maligawa was burnt down and its treasures were sacked first by the Portuguese and later by the Dutch when they invaded Kandy. Then there were no miracles. The History of Ceylon by L. E. Blaze which was a text book when we were school boys cites the instance of the Portuguese crushing the tooth with mortar and pestle, after they sacked Kotte. The King of Burma offered a huge ransom but it was turned down on the advice of the Bishops. Blaze would have got the information from Portuguese historians like Quaeroz and Riberio.

Vouter Schorten was a Dutchman who wrote about his travels in Ceylon in 1658. He too records that the Sinhalese custodians cut a tooth out of ivory and duped the people saying that the tooth destroyed by the Portuguese appeared back to them by a miracle. Vouter’s book is a rare one and only two copies are available in the library of the Royal Asiatic Society.

It is a fact that the custodians will not allow a close examination of the tooth either by votaries or by scientists for purposes of carbon-dating and establishing or refuting the genuineness of the relic.

People believe what they like to believe or have been indoctrinated to believe from childhood. Only a few call for evidence, verifiability and scientific examination.

Chulalankara King of Siam came to worship the Dalada with handsome presents. Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike was there on that occasion. The King wanted to take the Dalada to his hands and examine before worshipping. The D.N. would not agree. The King was offended, ‘blackguarded’ the DN, withdrew the offerings and went to the Queens Hotel. The Maha Sangha lined the streets upto the hotel. The details can be found in Sir Solomon’s "Remembered Yesterdays," which contain his memoirs.
D. Amarasiri Weeraratne
Wattala