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Demise of Most Venerable Pandit Athurugiriye Gnanawimala Maha Thera

The most Ven, Pandith Athurugiriye Sri Gnanawimala Maha Thera the Chief Incumbent of Mullegama Sri Sugathanandaramaya, who also had been the Chief Incumbent of the Berlin Buddhist Vihara in Germany passed away at the age of 91 years.

He was born on the 24th March, 1912 to a respectable family in the Colombo District and was named "Sepala, Arangala Vithanage" and he received his early education at the Ahurugiriya Maha Vidyalaya upto the 5th standard and then came under the tutelage of the Ven. Bomiriye Seela Wimala Maha Thera to be ordained as Samanera. After the demise of the Most Ven. Seela Wimala Maha Thera he came under the guidance of Mahopadya Mullegama Pangnaseeha Maha thera and on the 30th of August, 1925 he was ordained under the tutelage of the most Ven. Mullegama Sri Pangnnaseeha and the Most Ven. Panditha Mullegama Sri Seelalankara Maha Thera.

He was ordained under the name and style of "Ven Athurugiriye Gnanawimala Thera", received his primary education in Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit and Buddhism under the tutorial guidance of Ven. Mullegama Sri Seelalankara Maha Thera and subsequently gained admission to the Vidyaraja Pirivena at Gorakapola in Panadura and passed the Pracheena Pandit Examination.

Ven. Gnanawimala Thera received his higher ordination in 1933. He came in contact with the great scholar Munidasa Kumaratunga and Gnanawimala Thera's Association with the great scholar helped the monk in his studies to a great extent.

Soon after completing his studies Gnanawimala Thera got himself involved in religious and social activities as a result of which in 1956 he toured Japan and Myanmar along with the Most Ven. Baddegama Wimalawansa Anunayaka Thera for the purpose of delivering Dhamma Sermons.

In 1966, the Thera visited Germany to propagate the Dhamma and took up residence at the Berlin Buddhist Vihara and stayed there for over 15 years. He was one of the monks who worked with his heart and soul for the development of the Berlin Temple in Germany which was started by Pandit Dr. Paul Dalke.

Having gained contacts with the Most Ven, Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera, the Most Ven. Weligama Sri Sumangala Thera and Anagarika Dharmapala on a visit to Sri Lanka and having been attracted to the Panchaseela at the feet of this Pandit Dr. Paul Dalke had become a convert to Buddhism.

Most Ven. Gnanawimala Thera has authored several books, the most important of which is the German - Sinhala Dictionary containing over 20,000 words which he has compiled.

In view of the services so rendered for the promotion of the Sasana, the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha conferred the title of honour of "Sasana Keerthi Sri Saddharma Bhanaka" on the Most Ven. Gnanawimala Maha Thera.

The cremation will take place on January 9th evening at Habarakada. May Most Ven. Athurugiriye Sri Gnanawimala Maha Thera attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.

Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anunayaka Thera, Secretary General, Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha

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