Chief Sanghanayaka for Central Province

R.M. Ratnayake Kandy South Spl.

The Mahanayaka Thera of Udarata Amarapura sect Most Venerable Aggamaha Panditha Theripehe Somananda Maha Thera and the Karaka Maha Sanghasabha of the sect has appointed Venerable Wattegama Dhammawasa Nayaka Thera as the Chief Sangha Nayaka of the Central Province with honorary title "Sri Sugatha Patipatti, Sasana Sobana, Vishwa Keerthi Sri Dharma Visarada Panditha". Along with this appointment the post of Chief Sangha Nayaka of Australia presently held by Venerable Wattegama Dhammawasa Thera was re-confirmed.

The new Sangha Nayaka Thera is the only pupil of the late Ven. Galabadawatte Sri Gnanalankara Maha Thera. The Sanghanayaka of Kandy and the founder of Sri Subodharamaya, Peradeniya and also an eminent Tamil scholar who exposed Dhamma in the Tamil language.

Venerable Wattegama Dhammawasa Nayaka Thera is the Viharadhipathi of the present Sri Subodharama International Buddhist Centre, Peradeniya and the founder of the Sri Gnanalankara International Bhikku Training Institute, Peradeniya. The highly esteemed services rendered by him at religious, social and educational levels are very numerous.

The efforts made by this Nayaka Thera to carry the Buddha's message out into the world is outstanding too. Being the head of the Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist monastery in Brisbane, Australia and also of two branch monasteries in America he has travelled to many countries in the world and has attended several international Buddhist conferences.