On the occasion of conferring the Sri Sannasa (royal charter), in keeping with venerable ancient customs, to the Most Ven. Narampanave Saddharma Vagishvara Sri Sumanatissa Ananda Anunayaka Thero, who has been appointed Anunayaka (Deputy Prelate) of the Asgiri Maha Vihara Chapter of the Siam Nikaya of the Mahavihara tradition, the ceremony will be held on Friday, October 3, in the Royal Audience Hall within the precincts of the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Holy Tooth Relic), Kandy, under the patronage of the President of Sri Lanka.
He was born on February 10, 1965, in the village of Narampanawa in Patha Dumbara, Dumbara Mitiyawatha, an area that provided protection to the Sinhalese warrior-kings, as the son of Wijerathna Banda and Lokumenike. While studying at Narampanawa Maha Vidyalaya, he entered the monastic life on January 25, 1981, under the preceptorship of the Most Ven. Halyale Sri Sumanatissa Anunayaka Thero, historically the Chief Incumbent of the Badulla Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara, a Vidyā Vishārada (scholar) and Royal Pandit, belonging to the esteemed Meda Pansala lineage of the Asgiri Maha Vihara.
Having received his primary education at the Mahavihara Maha Pirivena established by his preceptor, in 1983 he entered the Papiliyana Sunethradevi Maha Pirivena, then a well-reputed center of learning in Sri Lanka, for secondary studies. Although he was qualified for admission to the University of Peradeniya, he accepted a transfer and enrolled at the University of Kelaniya. It should be noted that during his period of residence in the capital, his service at the Sunethrarama Viharaya in Ethulkotte, under the leadership of Most Ven. Prof. Dambunumaya Sri Ñāṇaratana Thero also helped shape his life’s path.
On reaching the full age of twenty, the novice Narampanave Ananda was conferred the higher ordination (upasampadā) under the name Vāhalanāga on July 6, 1986, in the ceremonial Uposatha Hall of the Asgiri Maha Vihara, with Ven. Uduwawala Chandānanda Thero and Ven. Palipana Sirinivāsa Lekhakādhikāri Thero serving as kammācariya (preceptor-officiants). Having graduated with first-class honors, he had the opportunity to be appointed as a lecturer after completing his university studies. However, following the passing of his preceptor in 1988, he dedicated himself to fulfilling the range of responsibilities owed to the Asgiri Maha Vihara and the temples of his own lineage. Though engaged in many such duties, Anunayaka Thero did not set aside education. In 1993, he obtained a Master’s degree from the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies at the University of Kelaniya, and at present he is conducting research for a doctoral degree at the University of Peradeniya.
At that time the Mahavihara Maha Pirivena which had become inactive, was restarted in 1991, and by 1998 he succeeded in elevating it to the status of a Maha Pirivena. Today, the Asgiri Mahavihara Maha Pirivena is not only recognized as a foremost Sri Lankan institute for ancient languages and Buddhist studies, but also stands as the country’s largest and leading monastic educational institution a claim not exaggerated. Over nearly three decades during which he served as the head of the pirivena, not only the monk-students produced by that institute but also the pirivena teachers trained under his guidance, as well as learned monks and highly dedicated, capable scholars, have distinguished themselves not only in Sri Lanka but also internationally.
More than four hundred students from Sri Lanka and abroad, without any sectarian distinction, receive education at the Mahavihara Maha Pirivena. In addition, institutions such as the Branch of Nalandā Pirivena at Teldeniya and the Nalandā Buddhist College are being successfully administered under the leadership of the Anunayaka Thero. ,Asgiri Mahavihara Pirivena has earned wide renown aHes the first and only monastic institution in Sri Lanka where education from the primary pirivena level up to the final traditional examinations can be pursued bilingually in Sinhala and English.
Appointed in 1998 by the Most Venerable Palipana Chandānanda Maha Thero as a member of the Asgiri Mahavihara Executive Sangha Council, he was subsequently entrusted by the Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Maha Thero with the responsibilities of Deputy Secretary of the Executive Maha Sangha Council. Furthermore, during the tenures of the Most Venerable Galagama Sri Atthadassi Maha Thero and the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Ñānaratana Maha Thero, he rendered great service by representing the Asgiri Mahavihara in national, religious, and social affairs both domestically and abroad, safeguarding without interruption the body of traditional rites associated with the Asgiri Mahavihara. Up to the most recent ordination season, he has served at every upasampadā ceremony at the Asgiri Mahavihara as one of the kammācariya (officiating preceptors) to the novice aspirants. He has also been involved in the service of the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), a rare opportunity generally reserved only for the Maha Sangha of the Malwathu–Asgiri Mahavihara, faithfully performing the ancient ritual observances in a manner that fosters the faithful’s devotion to the Sasana up to the present day.
Having developed the monasteries under his stewardship including the Asgiri Mahavihara Pirivena, Narampanawa Gangātilaka Viharaya, Karalliyadda Uposathārāmaya, Bathalawatta Nigrodhārāmaya, Kosgama Viharaya, Arattana Viharaya, Kumburegama Galgāna Rajamaha Viharaya, Digana Priyadarshanārāmaya, Pallekele Nalandā College, and the Dulani de Silva Buddhist Center—and dedicating his life to produce a generation of knowledgeable, educated students, the Venerable Narampanave Ananda Thero, upon completing sixty years of age, retired from state service in the first half of this year.
Following the passing of the Anamaduwa Saddharma Kīrti Sri Ratanapāla Buddharakkhita Dhammadassī-abhidhāna Anunayaka Thero on 21st of July created a vacancy in the Anunayaka position.
The venerable body known as the Executive Maha Sangha Council of the Asgiri Mahavihara, called the Rājupasthāniya Paramadhamma Sabha presided over by the Most Ven. Warakagoda Dhammasiddhi Sri Paññānanda Ñāṇaratana-abhidhāna Mahanayaka Thero of the Sri Lanka Shyamopali Maha Nikaya , selected and appointed Most Ven. Narampanave Sri Ananda Thero as the new Anunayake Thero on 28th of August 2025.
May the newly appointed Anunayaka, Narampanave Ananda Thero, who toward all who come before him engaging in the four bases of social harmony by being friendly in speech, greeting first, and taking the initiative and who has inscribed an indelible name in this country’s Buddhist education have long life to advance the welfare of the world and the Sasana. We pray for his long life, health, and all prosperities.
© Satipatthāna magazine
Translated by Dr Shermila Milroy