Sangharaja Weliwita Thera must be honoured for instilling ‘Upasampada’

The time has come for the state to give due recognition to a priest without whom there would be no Buddhism in this country.  That figure is none other than Sangharaja Weliwita Asarana Sarana Saranankara of Tumpane.

Sri Lanka should have celebrated the 309th birth anniversary of Sangharaja Weliwita Thera with similar importance as the introduction of Upasampada to Sri Lanka in 1753. If not for Sangharaja Weliwita Thera, Sri Lanka would not have been a Buddhist country. But, it seems there is little recognition for the efforts taken by this priest to bring Upasampada to this island. The irony of it is that the regimes of the past have spent millions of rupees to mark the bringing of Upasampada to the country, without realising that it was this Sangharaja Weliwita Thera, who, with the help of Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, who initiated efforts to make the Siamese (now Thailand) send a delegation of monks with Upasamapada or Higher Ordination to Sri Lanka.

At one stage, King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe nearly beheaded Sangharaja Weliwita Thera after entertaining a false story conveyed to the King.

The only place that Sangharaja Weliwita Thera was recogised at that time was a small school at Welivita where a statue of the priest was unveiled by the then Governor of the Central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa. 

But, the story does not end here. Sometime ago the birthplace of this saintly monk was in ruins. On a couple of occasions this development was brought to the notice of the authorities. But no action was taken to refurbish this home of the Thera. This place was owned by his parents. His father was Kulatunga Mudiyanse Kiri Banda. This house should have been refurbished by the Archaeological Department and as a mark of respect for a priest who helped establish Buddhism in Sri Lanka against all odds. Upasamapda rights were brought to Sri Lanka on May 16, 1753. The Upasampada ritual was brought by a delegation of ten monks headed by Upali Maha Thera. But it was only on July 19, 1753 that Upasampada rights were conferred at Malwatta Poyage, which is especially built for this purpose.  

The original house - a typical Kandyan home-was where the young Kulatunga was born. Sadly the house associated with Sangharaja Weliwita Thera–before taking to robes- has been renovated without the knowledge of the Archaeological Department. On the other hand the Archaeological Department took no notice when this old house was in a dilapidated state; as shown in the photograph reproduced here in the article.

There is speculation that Sangharaja Weliwita Thera was born in June, 1698, but his date of birth cannot be confirmed. The birth of this individual is referred to the fifteenth year of rule of Vimaladharmasuriya II; on the seventh day in the dark half-moon in the month of Poson. Some say it is the 16th of June and others say it could be the 19th of June.

But, there is no doubt that Buddhism’s renaissance commenced with the entry of Sangharaja Welivita Thera as a monk. He was bestowed with the title of Sangharaja by King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe only later in life. During the celebrations to mark the 250th year of bringing Upasampada to Sri Lanka millions were spent, but no attention was paid to honour the birthplace of Sangharaja Weliwita Thera. This site should be made a National Monument or as the residents of the area point out, the entire complex should be preserved. This includes the Cultural Centre, the temple, the Budhu-ge and the premises where the Sangharaja Weliwita Thera and Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe had planted two Bo-trees.

It is time that the Government or Archaeological Department authorities took some action in this regard.

Sangharajapura is located in the village of Welivita in the Tumpane Divisional Secretary’s Division.  The house that Sangharaja Weliwita Thera was born has been so renovated that it would take time to bring it to the state of what it was years ago.

Sangharaja Welivita Thera was instrumental in the renaissance of Buddhism in the country at a time when there wasn’t a single member of the Sangha who was ordained in the ‘Upasampada ritual’ or Higher Ordination.

Sangharaja Welivita Thera was born in this remote village of Welivita and named Kulatunge Banda. His father held the title of Mudali. At the age of 12, the younger Banda was entrusted to Suriyagoda Rajaguru Thera to be ordained as a monk at Suriyagoda. It is from here that he learnt Buddhism and went in search of the inner dimensions of Buddhism; at a time when there were no books or scholars.

He used a cave at Balana to meditate while living in another cave close by. The two caves are separated by the Kandy -Colombo railway track. On the Poya day of 1753, the first Upasampada ritual was performed here in Sri Lanka. This happened thanks to the presence of a Thai delegation. The monks of Asgiri were not present for the first Upasampada ceremony.