Myanmar honours Most Ven. Weligama Gnanaratane Thera
Today (23) a function will be held at the BMICH with State patronage
to felicitate the Most Venerable Weligama Gnanaratane thera on his
receiving the prestigious title of Agga Maha Panditha from the Union of
Myanmar(Burma).
He was invited by the Government of the Union of Myanmar to visit
their country to receive this award. On this occasion, it is very
appropriate to recall with gratitude the services rendered by the Maha
Nayake thera to the Sasana.
The Dharmarakshita Nikaya to which the Venerable thera belongs was
established by the Venerable Attudawe Siri Dharmarakhita thera who
received his higher ordination in Myanmar.
Many of the most learned, pious, highly respected and well-known
monks of Sri Lanka such as the Venerable Pelene Sri Vajiragnana thera,
the Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha thera have been members of this Order.
The Order is well-known in foreign countries.
In 1995 the Venerable Gnanaratane was appointed as the Secretary to
the Sri Dharmarakshitavansa Amarapura Nikaya. He was mainly responsible
for activating the Sangha Sabha (Bhikku Committee) of the Order.
He together with a few other monks and under the guidance of the Most
Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha thera who was the Maha Nayake of the Nikaya
at the time, was responsible for the unification of the various sects of
the Order.
He is now the only surviving member of the original group of monks
who took this far-sighted step to establish the Order on a very firm
footing. He held the post of Secretary for 19 years and was awarded the
Honorary title, ‘Vinaya Visharada Dharmakeerthi Sri’ by the Bhikku
Committee in appreciation of his services. He was appointed the
Anu-Nayake thera of the Nikaya in 1990.
On the demise of the late Most Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha thera, the
Most Venerable Weligama Gnanaratane thera was appointed as the Maha
Nayake of the Nikaye in 2003.
In addition to being the Chief Incumbent of the Ratmalane
Mallikaramaya, where he resides, the Ven. Weligama Gnanaratana is also
the Chief Incumbent of several other temples both in this country and in
the USA. While all temples in Sri Lanka perform some social service, the
Mallikaramaya is perhaps unique in having a legally registered society
to do so.
Called the Sarana Padanama, it was established in 1993 with the Most
Venerable Maha Nayake thera as a Patron and adviser.
It was registered under the Societies Ordinance (Reg. no. 5745) in
1997. The Maha Nayake thera continues to guide and advices the society.
Among the continuing services rendered by the Sarana Padanama are the
donation of artificial limbs to members of the Armed Forces who have
lost a limb on account of the continuing civil strife in the country and
the organisation of medical clinics in a deprived area.
The donation of artificial limbs commenced in 1994 on the Vesak Full
Moon Day and has been continued up to now on almost every Full Moon Day.
By Vesak of 2008, the society had donated more than 700 artificial limbs
with the support of many devotees both local and foreign.
The Sarana Padanama has been active in the time of natural disasters
occurring in the country.
It has built 15 houses in a village close to the town of Galle for
some of those who were affected by the tsunami of 2004.
It has helped those affected by floods, given scholarships to
deserving children, assisted poor people to buy their medicines, etc.
The Sarana Padanama continues its humanitarian services.
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