Ven. Palamugedera Somananda Thera
 

BY NIRMALA Samarasinghe

BORN on 17th April 1917 in the small hamlet Palamugedera near Maho the child was named Kirihamy. He received his primary education at Balalla Maha Vidyalaya.

As the parents were foremost Dayakas of Dimbulgiri Raja Maha Viharaya, Balalla, they acceded to the request made by the then Viharadhipathi the late Ven. Wilawa Sri Sobitha Nayake Thera, Chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayake Thera of the Wanni and Demala Hatpattu to ordain this child as novice. He was given the name Palamugedera Somananda.

He received his education at Pravachanodaya Pirivena, Molligoda, Wadduwa. He received the higher ordination - 'Upasampada' at the historical 'Uposathagaraya' of Malwatte Maha Viharaya, Kandy.

After finishing studies he went to Dimbulgiri Raja Maha Viharaya, Balalla and engaged in social and religious activities.

Once he was invited to observe 'Vas' at his birth place Palamugedera. At the end of the 'Vas' period, he was offered an 'Avasa' made of wattle and daub and he was requested to settle-down there for good by his relations and well-wishers, to which he acceded.

S.T. Sinnadurai who was the owner of the business establishment at Pettah named Leela Stores founded the 'Eksath Bodhiraja Samithiya' for the protection of the Bodhi at Pettah. He became its first treasurer.

The Bodhi which was near his business establishment was converted into a Buddhist place of worship and a shrine-room was constructed by this 'Samithiya'.

A Buddha statue was also constructed. A necessity arose for the Sacred Relics of the Buddha to be enshrined in the Buddha statue.

S.T. Sinnadurai on the recommendation made by his friend the late L.P. Deshabandu, a journalist who was working in the editorial of 'Dinamina' visited Sri Mangalaramaya, Palamugedera, Maho with him and met Ven. Somananda Thera - who took them to Dimbulgiri Raja Maha Viharaya and introduced them to the Nayake Thera who agreed to offer a Buddhist Relic to 'Eksath Bodhiraja Samithiya.' Subsequently, the Relic was enshrined in the statue of the Buddha by the Ven. Somananda Thera. Ven. Somananda Thera was made the Chief Patron of 'Eksath Bodhiraja Samithiya'.

Later, late S.T. Sinnadurai visited Sri Mangalaramaya with the other office bearers of the 'Samithiya' and informed their willingness to construct an 'Avasa' building to the Thera replacing the hut where the Thero lived to which the Thera objected and advised them to build a hall for preaching 'Bana' and for the use of the 'Daham Pasala'. After finishing the construction of this hall, the 'Samithiya' was able to construct the 'Avasa' building for the Thera.

After the demise of S.T. Sinnadurai, his sons namely late S. Sunderalingam, late S. Balendra, Dr. S.T.S. Somasekeran, S. Dhesabandu, S. Loganathan, S. Dhanabala, S. Sockkanathan, S. Ravindra got together and with the assistance of their family members following in the path paved by their late father did everything possible in helping the cause of the Viharaya.

At the instance of S. Dhanabala who became a patron of 'Eksath Bodhiraja Samithiya' a 'Chaithya', had been constructed by the 'Samithiya', and the pinnacle was laid on 21st March 1989.

The Sinnadurai family provided the Viharaya with a water supply scheme and constructed a 'Pancha Maha Devalaya' and a two-storeyed Pilgrims' Rest. A 'Bodhi - Prakara' for the Bodhi was built by a friend of theirs from Colombo, Mrs. Sandya Jinasena, wife of the late Nandasena Jinasena, a former D.I.G. of Police on their invitation.

Son of the late S. Balendra, young Lawyer Mohan Balendra should be commended for the keen interest he has taken in the affairs of the Viharaya.

When the Thera fell ill about two years ago, he was shown to medical specialists in Colombo and given suitable treatment by S. Dhesabandu. Various tests were done at Oasis and Nawaloka hospitals. For a few days he had to get warded at Durdans hospital.

Ven. Somananda Thera took steps to name the road leading to the village from the main Puttalam Road as 'Leela Mawatha' in appreciation of the work done by the late S.T. Sinnadurai and his sons and the road leading to the Viharaya as 'Bodhiraja Mawatha' in appreciation of the work done by 'Eksath Bodhiraja Samithiya', Pettah.

Pupils of the late Ven. Somananda Thera are the Ven. Naramane Buddharakkitha Nayake Thera, Chief Incumbent, Sri Jinendra Chaithyarama Purana Viharaya, Egoda-Uyana, Moratuwa, Ven. Nagollagama Dharmarama Thera, Parivenadhipathi Deepaloka Pirivena, Balalla, Ven. Kathaluwe Sumangala Thera and Ven. Moragollagama Sumana Thera.

A special Bodhi-Pooja will be held on the today, 3rd December at 7.30 p.m. at Sri Mangalaramaya, Palamugedera and a Dharmadesana will be delivered by the Ven. Rukmale Dhammakitty Nayake Thera, Chief Incumbent, Sri Maha Viharaya, Pore, Athurugiriya to confer merits on the late Thera.

A Sanghika Dana will be held on the 4th to hundred members of Maha Sangha including the Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anu Nayake Thera of Malwatte Chapter.

May the late Ven. Palamugedera Somananda Thera attain Nibbana.