Ven Depanama Sugathabandu Thera passes away
Kollupitiya Polwatta Dharmakeerthiyarama Piriven Viharaya
Viharadhipathi and Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya Adhikarana
Lekakhadhikari Ven Depanama Sugathabandu Thera, 76, passed away on March
19.
Ven Sugathabandu Thera was born at Depanama Pannipitiya on January
14, 1936. His parents were Hendrick Perera Abeysinghe and Dona Sesa
nona. After his initial education at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya.
He was ordained at the Dharmodaya Pirivena, Wellawatta on May 8, 1952
under the tutelage of Most Ven Induruwe Uttarananda Mahanayake Thera. He
received his higher ordination on February 18, 1958 at the Kalyana Nadee
Upakukkepa Seemamalakeya, Mulleriyawa. He entered the Vidyodaya
University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sinhala, Pali and
Buddhism in 1970 and subsequently his Master of Arts degree.
When Most Ven Induruwe Uttarananda Thera was appointed Dean of the
Anuradhapura Buddhasravaka Dharmapeetaya, Ven Sugathabandu Thera
functioned as his private secretary as well as librarian of the
Buddhasravaka Dharmapeetaya. Thereafter, he started the Dharmakeerthi
Pirivena at Kollupitiya and rendered a great service towards Bhikkhus
and lay students from outstations who came to seek higher education by
providing them with board and lodging till his death. Ven Sugathabandu
Thera who had a desire to undertake dhammaduta activities abroad resided
at the Lankaramaya in Singapore for sometime.
He rendered a great service towards the revival of Bhikkhu education
by holding various posts in the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya. He was
responsible for the renovation and restoration of the Sanghavasa, Buddha
mandiraya, Dharmasala, and Bodhigharaya of the Polwatte temple at
Kollupitiya.
As an erudite Bhikkhu of the highest calibre, he has nurtured a vast
number of pupils for the service of the Sasana and society. Notable
among them are Ven Wathurawela Ratanawansa Thera. Ven Withikuliye
Gunadhara Thera, Ven Diwulwewa Tilakaratana Thera, Ven Kuda Ratmale
Somasiri Thera, Ven Beragama Chandrasiri Thera, Ven Kirilipola
Dumindananda Thera, Ven Yatiyantota Sobhitha Thera and Ven Kahawatte
Mahinda Thera.
Ven Galagama Dhammaransi Thera, Co-ordinating Secretary to the
President on Religious Affairs
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