The ceremonial presentation of the Sri Sannas Patra to the recently elected Atamasthanadhipathi and Chief Sanghanayaka of the Nuwara Kalaviya Most Venerable Dr. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera will take place on January 28 at 2.30 pm under the auspices of the Chief Prelates of the three Chapters at the historical Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya premises.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe will present the ‘Sri Sannas Patra’ to the recently elected Anuradhapura Atamasthanadhipathi Thera while Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will present the ‘Vijinipata’. Political party leaders, diplomats, ambassadors and Members of Parliament representing the government and opposition will participate in this state-sponsored ceremony.
After the passing of the Most Venerable Pallegama Srinivasa Nayaka Thera, who served as the Atamasthanadhipathi, Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thera was elected as the 11th Atamasthanadhipathi based on the unanimous decision of the Atamasthana Committee.
Born on June 15, 1954, in Dambulla Pallegama, in the Matale District, Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera received his basic education from the Matale Bulagala Primary School, Palwehera College and Kandalam Pallegama Sri Siddhartha Vidyalaya.
On May 9, 1968, he entered monastic life at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya premises and was ordained on June 5, 1975, at the Malwatu Viharaya, Kandy. He received his basic Piriven education at the Anuradhapura Mahavihara Pirivena and received his higher education at the Maligakanda Vidyodaya Pirivena and Sandalanka Shastrodaya Pirivena.
From 1977 to 1988, he was in charge of the ritualistic activities of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya and from 1982 to 1997, he served as a lecturer and as the Parivenadhipathi of the Maha Vihara Pirivena. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and is famous as a great lyricist who enriched Sri Lankan literature.Most Ven. Hemarathana Thera, who received a Degree in Archaeology (Hons.) from the University of Kelaniya, served as the Director of the Anuradhapura Jethavanaramaya from 1988 and played a unique role as an Assistant Director of the Jethavanaramaya Project in the Cultural Triangle.
The Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, who was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Sanghanayaka of the Nuwara Kalaviya in 1995, was a member of the Atamasthana Committee in 1995. In 1997, he was appointed as the Viharadhikari of the Ruwan Weli Maha Seya, and in the same year, he was honoured with the title of Nuwara Kalavia Chief Sanghanayaka.
Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera performed a unique mission for the development of the Ruwanweli Maha Seya by initiating the Anuradhapura Maha Vihara project under the advice of the Atamasthana President Dr Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thera, was responsible for initiating a silent mission for religious revival in Sri Lanka.
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