Awarding the “Sannas Patra” Acknowledging the services of Ven. Pathberiye Wimalagnana Thera to the Buddha sasana

Rajakeeya Panditha Ven. Pathberiye Wimalagnana Thera

The ceremony of awarding the “Sannas Patra” to Rajakeeya Panditha Ven. Pathberiye Wimalagnana Thera, Chief Incumbent of Kirulapone Sri Purvaramaya, Narahenpita Sri Abayaramaya, Boralesgamuwa Sri Vapikaramaya, Polgasowita Rilawala Shri Susimaramaya, and Eheliyagoda Kiriporuwa Sri Nagharukkaramaya, and retired Assistant Director of Education (Piriven), Deputy Registrar of the All Ceylon Sasanarakshaka Mandala, and Sanghanayaka for Colombo Nawa Koralaya and Nawa Thotamuna appointed by the Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Maha Sanga Sabha will take place on August 10 and 11 in Kirulapana.

Ven. Pathberiye Wimalagnana Thera was born on August 20, 1949, in Pathberiya. He was ordained a novice on December 30, 1960 at Kirulapana Sri Purvarama Vihara under the tutelage of Ven. Raddelle Sri Pannaloka Anu Nayaka Thera and Ven. Thalapitiye Pemaloka Thera. On August 7, 1970, he received his Higher Ordination (Upasampada) at the Sirimangala Uposathagara of the Kotte Rajamaha Vihara. In 1969, he passed the final examination of the Vidyodaya Pirivena, ranking first in the honour roll, and won many prizes, including the Shyamaraja. He received the Rajakeeya Panditha degree and a diploma in education. He served as a lecturer and parivenacharya at Anuradhapura Bhikku University and has rendered great service to the nation and the Sasana as an eminent person holding many educational administrative positions.

In 1980, he was elected to the Kotte Sangha Sabha as Karma Wagacharya and Sangha Sabhika, and in 2015 he became the Sanghanayaka of Ratnapura district while holding the position of Winishchakaraka Sabhika Anuwijjaka. He is performing an invaluable mission for the advancement of the Sangha Sabha. As the President of Thimbirigasaya Regional Sasanarakshaka Mandala, Registrar of Colombo District Sasanarakshaka Mandala, Vice President of the Sri Lanka Temperance Association, and Committee member of the Sri Lanka Pracheena Bhashopakara Society, he is engaged in wide-ranging service to the Sasana, Dhamma school sector, and the entire society. 

Ven. Pathberiye Wimalagnana Thera has been engaged in service for 50 years at the Sri Purvaramastha Sri Saddharmadaya Sunday School. He founded Sirirahal Nursery School, Sri Sumanasara Children’s Club, Kirulapana Sanasa Society, Sri Purvarama Task Force Society, Sanasa Bank, and Sri Purvarama Kulagana Samitiya, contributing valuable service to the village under the theme “from temple to village.” 

In 1998, he founded Sri Pannaloka Dharma Niketana Pirivena with the noble aim of nurturing a generation of virtuous and educated students for the Sasana. It is a matter of happiness that it has produced a large number of students who have received the Rajakeeya Panditha degrees. He has ordained more than 15 students and counseled hundreds of Pirivena students. He also developed several facilities, such as constructing a three-storeyed Sanghavasa for both teachers and students in the Pirivena and a two-storied shrine room with the contribution of  Nanda Pelimuhandiram.