Amarapura Maha Nikaya founder remembered

A ceremony to commemorate the 175th death anniversary of Venerable Welitota Sri Gnanawimala Tissa Maha Nayake Thera, the founder of Amarapura Maha Nikaya will be held on May 5, at 2.45 p.m. at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake.

The Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau will issue a commemorative stamp and a first day cover to mark the event.

Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama will exalt "The establishment, promulgation and religious service of the Amarapura Nikaya."

The event will be presided over by the Mahanayake of Amarapura Nikaya Most Venerable Davuldena Sri Gnaneswara Nayake Thera.

The event is organised by Velithara Sri Gnanawimala Tissa Memorial Foundation.

The Secretary General of Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha Dr. Brahamanawatte Seevali Thera will deliver a sermon on the motive and future plans of the foundation.

Following the offering of flowers and distribution of the commemorative magazine, the former Attorney General C.R. de Silva will address the gathering.

Venerable Sri Gnanawimala born in Welitota at Balapitiya became a bhikku under venerable Velivita Saranankara Sanga Raja in 1766 and received upasampada in 1801 in Burma.

He was the founder of low country upasampada and established the Amarapura Nikaya in 1806.

Venerable Sri Gnanawimala Thera passed away on July 08, 1833.