Cremation of Sanghanayaka Thera

The cremation of Ven. Udugama Chandraratana Dveetheeya Adhikarana Sanghanayaka Thera of the Southern Province who passed away on February 12 aged 92 years, will be held at the Magalle Mahagoda Viharaya Adahena Maluwa on February 16 at 2 p.m. Born on December 21, 1921 at Gamagoda, Udugama to H.V. Don Jamis and U.D. Adarahamy, Ven. Chandraratana was ordained under the preceptorship of Ven. Happavana Ariyawansa Thera and received tutelage by Ven. Welivitiye Indaratana Thera at a young age.

After mastering the Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhala languages he entered the Agalawatta Pathiraja Pirivena for further education in 1936.

He received higher ordination at the Malwatta Viharaya Seemamalakaya on June 2, 1941 at the age of 20 years.

In 1965 he joined the staff of the Galle Sri Punnasara Maha Pirivena as a teacher in which capacity he served for 15 years. Following the passing away of his teacher, he was appointed as Viharadhipati of the Makuluwa Sri Buddha Sinharamaya and rendered vital religious and social service to the area. In appreciation of his services, he was appointed Dveetheeya Adhikarana Sanghanayaka Thera of the Southern Province with the honorary title Pravachana Keerthi Sri by the Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of the Malwatta Viharaya. He later pioneered the setting up of the Makuluwa Sri Vidyasara Pirivena and performed a valuable service to the Sasana as its Parivenadhipati until his demise.