Ven Atapattukande Ananda Nayake Thera, a former Assistant Principal at Ananda College Colombo, Chief Incumbent at Havelock Town ‘Sama’ Vihara, Beruwala Sri Saugatharama Purana Vihara, Ellewela Sri Ashwattarama Vihara and Denagama Sri Munasingharamaya has been unanimously appointed the Chief Adhikarana Sanghanayake for the Southern Sri Lanka, coupled with the honorary title Saddharma Keerthi Sri Dhammarathana Pragnatissa by the Most Ven Tibbatuwawe Sri Sumangalabhidhana Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter and the Karaka Sangha Sabha of the Malwatte Chapter.
The appointment and credentials to this effect were presented to the Thera on March 6 at the historic conference hall Uposhathagaraya at the Malwatte Vihara in Kandy during a traditional ceremony attended by several Mahanayake, Anunayaka Theras and members of the Maha Sangha.
The reception and the felicitation (Abhinandana) ceremony of the newly-appointed Adikarana Sanghanayaka Thera will get underway at the BMICH today presided over by the Mahanayaka and Anunayaka Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters and attended by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and a host of invitees where the customary presentation of the parchment and the Vijinipatha (traditional fan) would take place along with the release of two academic journals with research materials.
Ven Prof. Kotapitiye Rahula Anunayka Thera of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagree Sangha Sabha and Prof Sampath Amarathunga, Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) would deliver special orations at the ceremony.
Compassionate bhikkhu
Ven Ananda Thera, although he is the incumbent of 4 temples does not lead a congested or hectic life. He maintains decorum and sanity however much the pressure would be upon him due to his well-trained bhikkhuhood and his virtuous life.
From all aspects of compassion, erudition, loving kindness, generosity and care for everyone and more importantly his disposition of humility and simplicity, the Ven Thera, during my more than 40 years of close association with him has emerged as colossus bhikkhu who won both our hearts and minds. He possesses remarkable sentiments of piety, composure and far-sightedness and his absorption of layman’s grievances appears remarkable and outstanding and they are in my opinion could be inborn qualities, aptly refined by his bhikkhu teachers after he was ordained as a novice bhikkhu in 1973.
Stay at Bellanwila
As a very budding bhikkhu he selected the Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara Temple as his residential quarters in the early 1980s with the blessings of the late Ven Bellanwila Sri Somarathana Nayaka Thera, Ven Bellanwila Dhammarathana Thera and Ven Prof Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera.
His close interaction with those colossal bhikkhus laid the foundation for his rise to academic, religious and social roles while serving the Pannipitiya Vidyalankara Pirivena as a teacher before he joined the Government service as a school teacher.
His close relationship with all those who came to see him provided solace to all, irrespective of their social status. His more than 40 years stint at Bellanwila, particularly maintaining friendly acquaintances with the late Ven Bellanwila Wimalarathana Anu Nayake Thera before 2018 prepared the breeding ground for him to be what he is today. After his graduation from Peradeniya and Kelaniya Universities, he continued his teaching career for more than 25 years before retiring as the Assistant Principal of Ananda College Colombo.
He stood as an enormous tower of strength to conduct affairs at the Bellanwila Raja Maha Vihara, irrespective of the time of the day particularly during the Daham pasal sessions, managing the Community Development Foundation and at the annual Esala Perahera of the Bellanwila Temple.
His untiring, courteous and humane attitudes and approaches to us laymen at Bellanwila relieved us of all mental frustrations, grief, disgust and disappointment and remained a beacon of hope and inspiration to all who approached him. He has a very wide and strong network of Dhamma friends and overseas bhikkhus who have been always communicating with him for assistance and propagation on the message of Dhamma.
Our wishes and greetings
Ven Atapattukande Ananda Nayaka Thera, I am pretty sure, will have necessary strength and vision to continue with responsibilities entrusted to him as the Chief Adikarana Sanghanayake for the Southern Province in future and usher a new era of disciplinary revival in the Buddha Sasana and priesthood.
This shift of paradigm in terms of his dedicated seniority to Dhamma, its practices and its applications, no doubt would further inspire him for continuation of his monastic life as the Buddha said. Let me quote; Dhammaramo – Dhammarato, Dhammam Anuvisinthayam, Dhammam Anussaram Bhikku – Saddhamma Na Pariyati (The bhikkhus who abide in the Dhamma, who delight in the Dhamma, who meditate on the Dhamma and are ever mindful of the Dhamma, do not fall away from the Dhamma of the virtuous).
Ven. Atapattukande Ananda Nayaka Thera has so far brightened the order of the Sambuddha Sasana ever since he became a disciple of the Buddha when he was just 11 years of age.
Over the past five decades he has been engaged in compiling Buddhist features to the mainstream media and various periodicals and magazines. His columns have received commendations and review of many ordinary citizens both here and abroad. His service to all temples in the South has been well accepted and appreciated. It is a milestone in his career to note that he has so far produced more than 50 books and volumes for propagation of the message of the Dhamma.
Ordination
He received his ordination as a novice in 1973 under the tutelage of his erudite teachers, Ven Narandeniye Dhammarathana and Ven Kongala Pangnatissa Nayaka Theras after completion of his secondary education. Later, he read for his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Peradeniya and the Masters’ at the University of Kelaniya before he followed the Post Education Diploma at the University of Colombo.
Born to Karunadasa Atapattu and Dona Hinnihamine Atapattu of Hakmana, he has travelled widely overseas on missionary assignments and is popular among bhikkhus overseas.
We are very pleased on behalf of all the Theras at Bellanwila Temple, including Ven Bellanwimala Dhammarathana Nayaka Thera, Ven Boralesgamuwe Pemarathana Thera, Ven Bellanwila Sangarathana Thera, members of the Dayaka Sabha, Kulagana Samithiya, all associations in Bellanwila and our grateful villagers and together we salute this great bhikkhu of our times and wish him longevity and all the success in the performance of his new responsibilities.
This recognition by the Malwathu Vihara is well deserved and it will certainly work as a catalyst for his continued service to the Sasana and human development and we wholeheartedly pay homage to this erudite scholar bhikkhu. Live long to serve mankind, Bhante!
Sisira Wijesinghe
Chief Media Coordinator – Abhinandana Committee
Fmr Basnayake Nilame – Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya