Upa-Sanghanayake of Salpitikoralaya passes away

The Upa-Sanghanayake of the Salpitikoralaya, Colombo and the Viharadhipathi of the Nedimala Sri Piyarathanaramaya and Vitharandeniya Sri Sudharshanaramaya, Ven. Middeniye Sri Pemananda Nayaka Thera JP (74) passed away on Tuesday, January 29.

The cremation will take place on Saturday, February 2, at 3 pm at the S.de.S. Jayasingha Sports Grounds at Dehiwala.

The Ven. Thera born in 1934 to the family of Mahabhara Arachchi and Abhyasingha Kamkanange Mahahamine of Murungagasyaya, Udahawatta, Middeniya, entered the Sasana at the age of 12, and did his studies as a Samanera at the Jayamaha Vihara Pirivena,Kithulwela, Matara.

He received the highest ordination at Kandy, Malwathu Viharaya in 1955.

The Thera continued his higher studies at the Maligakanda Vidyodaya Maha Pirivena and obtained his degree from the Sri Lanka Vidyodaya University.

He joined the staff of the Sri Gnaneswara Pirivena of the Hunupitiye Gangaramaya Temple, on the advice of his elder brother Rajakiya Panditha Ven. Witharandeniye Sri Chadrajothi Thera, the Nayaka Thera of the Sri Sambuddhaloka Viharaya, Colombo. The late Thera continued to teach at the Pririvena until his retirement.

The late Thera served as patron to many a social and religious organisations and is a well-known social worker.