President honours Most Ven Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thera

The Most Ven Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thera of the Amarapura Sri Sambuddha Shasanodaya Maha Sangha Sabha was honoured by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in recognition of his sasana and national service at a felicitation ceremony held at Temple Trees on February 13.

A special ceremony to welcome him will be held at the Waskaduwa Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Viharaya on February 24 under the patronage of Prime Minister D M Jayaratne.

Most Ven Shyamaraja Pujitha Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Jinawarawanshawathansa Pravachana Kirthi Sri Tripitakavedi Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Maha Nayaka Thera who is the Viharadhipati of the Deepaduttamarama Thai Raja Maha Viharaya, Kotahena, the Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Viharaya, Waskaduwa and several other leading temples was born in Galle on July 21, 1953 as Sarath Chandrasiri.

His parents were T M S Karunatilleke and K R D Silva Nona of Waskaduwa. He was ordained on June 10 1965 under the tutelage of Sri Subhuti Viharadhipati Ven Waskaduwe Seelawansa Nayaka thera and the preceptorship of Pinwatte Sri Saddharmakara Parivenadhipati Ven Pinwatte Devananda Adhikarana Sanghanayaka Thera.

After his initial education at the Sri Subhuti Viharaya Waskaduwa, he joined the Saddharmakara Pirivena, Pinwatte for further studies of the dhamma, sinhala, pali and sanskrit languages and completed his final examination in 1974.

He received his higher ordination at the age of 20 on June 1, 1974 under the tutelage of Ven Kosgoda Dhammaramsa thera.

After obtaining the Tripitakavedi honours degree from the Anuradhapura Buddha Sravaka Dharmapeetaya he entered the Kelaniya university and obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees.

Thereafter, he joined the tutorial staff of the Pinwatte, Saddharmakara Pirivena on invitation and helped the institution to produce a learned and erudite younger bhikkhu generation.

In 1982, he left the Saddharmakara pirivena and joined the staff of Nalagasdeniya Pirivena. He bade farewell to his 10 year teaching career in 1991 on his own volition to look after and care for his teacher Ven Waskaduwe Seelawansa Nayaka Thera until his demise.

Thereafter, in response to a request to join government service he received his first teaching appointment to St Johns Vidyalaya, Kalutara. Later he moved on to the Rajaguru Sri Vibuthi Vidyalaya, Waskaduwa where he has now risen to the position of Vice Principal. Most Ven Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thera who has grown up under the influence of a lineage of great Buddhist monks is presently the Viharadhipati of the Waskaduwe Rajaguru Sri Subuthi Maha Viharaya and the Kotahena Deepaduttamarama Thai Raja Maha Viharaya.

We wish him the blessings of the Noble Temple Gem for good health and long life to enable him to continue has sasana and national service for many more years.

Ven Galagama Dhammaransi Thera, Co-ordinating Officer to the President on Religious Affairs.