Ven. Wimalananditissa Thera's passing away, great loss to country - Secretary-General Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anunayake Thera

THE Secretary-General of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha, Thripitaka Vissaradha Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anunayaka Thera issuing the following message of condolence on behalf of the Ven. Maha Nayakas and other Venerable Theras of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya on the passing away of the Chief Incumbent of Balapitiya - Welithara Ambarukkarama Maha Viharaya Rajakeeya Panditha, Agga Maha Panditha Most Venerable Ahungalle Wimalananditissa Maha Thera, states that the Ven. Thera was appointed the President of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha and held this post well over 5 years.

Balapitiya - Welithara Ambarukkarama Maha Viharaya became the prominent centre of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya.

Having received the Upasampada at the city of Amarapura in Burma (Myanmar) the Venerable Bodhisatha Gunopetha Ambagahapitiya Sri Gnanawimala Maha Thera returned to Sri Lanka and performed an Upasampadha ceremony on the Vesak Full Moon day in the year 1803 at this Maha Viharaya for the first time.

The Amarapura Sect thus formed was then named 'Amarapura Company' in association with the Maha Viharaya.

As Chief Incumbent of the Ambarukkarama Maha Vihara he re-established the defunct Sasanodaya Pirivena and did a distinguished service to the area.

The services rendered by him for a over 50 years as a Buddhist scholar, a teacher, an eminent author and an eloquent Dhamma preacher also being the 8th President of the Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha will be remembered with gratitude.

For several decades he engaged himself in the propagation of Buddha Dhamma both in Sri Lanka and in foreign countries.

While expressing its deepest sorrow over the demise of Agga Maha Panditha Venerable Ahungalle Wimalananditissa Thera, the Amarapura Maha Nikaya wishes the late prelate the Bliss of Nibbana," the message concludes.