Founder of Amarapura Nikaya remembered

Precisely 175 years ago, Ven. Welitara Ghanawimala Tissa Thera the founder of Amarapura Chapter passed away.

Ven. Ghanawimala Maha Nayake Thera rendered an inestimable contribution for the renaissance of Buddhism in this country by establishing the Amarapura Nikaya in 1802.

Hence the ever grateful Buddhists in this country are planning to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the passing away of the Maha Nayaka Thera in a simple yet a fitting manner.

An alms giving for 50 Buddhist monks has been organized to be held on Sunday, March 15 at, Ambagahapitiya Mula Maha Viharaya, where the Nyake Thera lived until the passed away in 1833. Ven. Ghanawimala Tissa Samanera Thera personally visited Amarapura in Burma as a Royal guest of the then King of Burma and obtained the higher ordination at a Royal ceremony attended by the King in 1801.

The Thera brought down the higher ordination to Sri Lanka in 1802.

The entire voyage to and from to Amarapura was sponsored by Mudliyar Adrian de Arbrew Rajapakse of Maha Kappinna Walavwa, Balapitiya.

In addition to the Alms giving a memorial oration has also been organised to be delivered by Minister of Plan Implementation Dr. Sarath Amunugama at the BMICH on May 5 and arrangements have also been made to publish a volume and to issue a stamp to commemorate the occasion.