Ven. Rambukwelle Dharmarakshitha Thera's cremation today

KANDY: Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Dharmarakshitha Seelaratana Nayaka Thera, the Viharadhipathi of Sri Narendrasinharamaya Raja Maha Viharaya, Kundasale, passed away November 28. The cremation takes place at Kundasale today.

At the time of his demise the Nayaka was the senior member of the Executive Sangha Committee of the Malwatta Mahavihara Chapter.

He was born in 1920 at Gangodawalawwa, Ududumbara, as a son of Rajakaruna Seneviratne Abeykone Abhayasingha Ekanayaka Rajapaksa and Waasala Mudiyanse Ralahamige Rambukwelle Vilamune Walawwe Madduma Kumarihamy. He was named Tikiri Bandara.

He received his basic education at Gampaha Mediwaka Vidyalaya, Ududumbara and entered the Buddhist Order under the tutelage of Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Sobhitha Nayaka Thera, Ven. Namadagala Ratanapala Thera, Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Medhankara Thera and Ven. Rambukwella Dhammaratana Thera at the age of 13 years.

As a Samanera Bhikku, the Venerable Thera mastered his Dhamma education and clergy discipline at the Sri Sangharaja Maha Pirivena, received his higher ordination at the Malwatta Maha Viharaya Uposathagaraya with Ven. Pahamune Dharmakeerthi Sri Sumangala Thera and Ven. Ethugalgama Sri Sangharakkhitha Rewatha Thera as the Upadhyaya and Karmacharya, respectively, thus being elevated as "Vahalanaga".