Moment when Speaker gave permission to Piyatilleka who created the 'Senkolaya'

Most people have heard about the 'Senkolaya' (ceremonial mace) of the parliament of Sri Lanka. The proceedings of the House in parliament commences in an honourable fashion when the Senkolaya is localised.

There are occasions on record where some parliamentarians have carried the mace around for purposes of disturbing the House. The
present Senkolaya which symbolises the dignity of the parliament is something which has been gifted by the British Government. Prior to this it was a Senkolaya created by a local artiste which was in use until 1972. The said Senkolaya which is known as the Senate Senkolaya is currently in safe custody as an item of archaeological value. Nobody has the permission to tamper with it. This Senkolaya was created by Asveda Naidelage Piyatilleka who resided in Rambukkana Dombemada and who incidentally had the reputation as a distinguished goldsmith. He is now 88 years of age. Since he was not able to even touch the very Senkolaya of which he himself was the architect, he had been for sometime been lamenting about it for quite a period of time as such. When Speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya heard this news he had been on the horns of a dilemma whether the architect's dream should be fulfilled. And the creator of the Senkolaya finally happened to get the chance of touching this precious item once again a few days ago.  

He said that he created this in the year 1956 according to a structure he was given. Thus it is embedded with 45 gold pounds of 20 carat and sculptured with 3 and a half pounds of silver also embedded with a red hue, turquoise with 9 jewels within an elephant tusk 52 inches in length. Mr. Piyatilleke was bestowed this wonderful opportunity during the instance where the Sri Lankan parliamentary tradition has now drawn close to have completed 7 decades by being offered a special dinner and an offering of generosity as well. On this occasion Mr. Piyatilleka was present with a number of his progeny to grace the event. He was not afforded the opportunity of even getting close to this absolutely distinguished symbol for so long a period and at this personally historic moment he had the fortune of touching his own creation with his own hands and in the company of his progeny again.

The top part of the Senkolaya in fact consists of a crown in the shape of a flower comprising 8 petals with a beryl-coloured gem of a pointed shape which gives the appearance of a globular, filled up pot. The Moonstone of Anuradhapura is embedded in the frill formation located round the globular structure. Beneath that is found gems of a red and blue hue embedded there while Navaratna gems are attached to the bottom circular portion to characterise the 9 planets of the solar system. Mr. Piyatilleka says that the Senkolaya could be dismantled into 45 parts and it is affixed with a secret nail and that only he who knows about that particular nail. The total weight of the Senkolaya is 4 and a half pounds and he further mentions that the Pali text 'Sathindriyocha nipakocha' is to be seen on the logo of the then Senate, around the shaft. The only Senate Senkolaya produced by a Sri Lankan architect who could set his eyes upon his own creation was exceedingly joyful for this creator for having seen it once more.