Ven. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera, Deputy Chief Incumbent of Bellanwila Raja Maha Vihara and Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardhanapura University was appointed the Anunayake of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagi Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha.
Ven Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera entered the bhikku order on February 20, 1956 as a pupil of the then Chief Incumbent Bellanwila Sri Somaratana Nayaka Thera of the Bellanwila Raja Maha Vihara. Having received his initial education at the Molligoda Pravachanodaya Pirivena, he entered the Vidyalankara Maha Pirivena for further studies in Buddhism. After graduation with honours from the Kelaniya and Sri Jayawardhanapura Universities he entered the Lancaster University in Great Britain in 1977 and obtained a doctorate upon completion of relevant research.
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Among his achievements were the positions he held as Parivenadhipathi of the Paramadhammachetiya Pirivena, Ratmalana and Head of the Bhikku Education Institute. After his appointment in 1981 he served in the Pali and Buddhist studies department of the Sri Jayawardhanapura University for 22 years as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and later as Professor. He served as visiting Professor in Buddhism at the School of Oriental and African Studies of London University. Having left the University due to pressure of work he continues to serve Sri Lankan society and the Buddhist public in numerous ways in an exemplary manner through religious and social activities.
For more than 25 years, Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Anunayake Thera has been the Lekhakadhikari (Chief Secretary) of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagi Dhamma Maha Sangha Sabha.
A monk who serves the religious academia, the bhikku society and the public in an exemplary manner, he is one of the best preachers in this country today. He has authored many valuable books.
While having founded the Bellanwila Community Development Foundation he holds many positions in several organizations. His services rendered through the National Institute of Education, Maharagama, Council of the Post Graduate Institute of Buddhist and Pali Studies of the Kelaniya University, National Education Commission, Crime Prevention Committee, and World Buddhist Sangha Council Congress of Religions should be especially appreciated.
While leading the current Sri Lankan bhikku society he is well respected by the Sri Lankan Sangha community as an eminent personality for his impartial, fearless and balanced views expressed on any
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