London Buddhist Vihara holds special memorial service for Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera

By Pandula Ranatunga

On Monday 9th November Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thero, Head of the London Buddhsit Vihara led a special memorial service (Puja) at the Chiswick Vihra to remember and transfer merit to Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Naga Vihara, Kotte, who sadly passed away on 8th November 2015.

Offering Gilanpassa to Buddha along with flowers, incense, lighting of lamps, and Attapirikara to the Maha Sangha, a large congregation gathered at London Buddhist Vihara to pass merit and pay respect to a monk who was considered a giant among the giants of the Sri Lankan Maha Sangha.

Ven Bogoda Seelawimala joined by resident monks, Ven Thawalama Bandula, Ven Konwewa Ariyarathana and Ven. Kalugamuwe Kassapa spoke very highly of the unique and enormous service rendered to society by the Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Maha Thero, who was also a long friend and a supporter of the London Buddhist Vihara. The monks of UK’s premier Vihara fondly remembered his past visits to the Vihara and his many eloquent Bana sessions that drew hundreds of people to the Vihara, with his unsurpassed oratory skills and melodious tone. Audiences would be transfixed by Ven Sobitha Thero’s personal stories which were touched with his unique sense of humour, inimitable shining personality and of course his uncompromising attitude to social reforms.

Ven Seelawimala speaking of the late Chief incumbent of Naga Vihara, related how his unexpected demise had left an irreplaceable void in the Sri Lankan Maha Sangha community, and said that his distinctive approach to social reforms and fearless attitude to socio-political issues had long protected the essence of Sri Lanka’s cultural and ethical practices from being damaged. Speaking of his colossal contribution to the society as a whole, Ven Seelawimala spoke of Ven. Sobhitha’s unparalleled work initiating and being responsible for more than 50-75 organisations including the Sinhala Balamandalaya movement and spearheading the well-known National Campaign for a Just Society. The other organisations that he inspired included the Temperance Youth Organization, National Heroes’ Foundation, National Sangha Council, All island Pirivena Teachers’ Association, Sri Lanka-Korea Buddhist Association, Eye Donation Association and many more.

Born in a quiet scenic village in Maduluwawe, Padukka, on the edge of Colombo, Ven Sobhitha Thero, entered the vinaya as a novice monk at the age of 13 years in 1955. He received his higher ordination on June 15, 1962 under the tutelage of the then Sri Naga Vihara incumbent, late Ven. Mulleriyawe Rewatha Thero, Ven Dewahandiye Sri Saddhatissa Nayake Thero and Ven Angammana Gunarathana Thero, both from Kotte Road Sri Jayawardhanaramaya. Later, he entered the Vidyodaya University (currently the Sri Jayawardenepura University) for higher studies after completion of his Pirivena education at Kelaniya Vidyalankara Pirivena and became the incumbent at Kotte Sri Naga Viharaya in 1967 where carried out many of his public service work. Ven Sobhitha Thero graduated in BA (Honours) degree and began his teaching career rising later as to be the Principal at Sri Perakumba Pirivena, Ethul Kott, the Principal at Kuda Uduwe Nalanda Pirivena and the Vice Principal at Gangodawila Subhadrarama Pirivena.

May the Most Ven Maduluwawe Sobbith Thero attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.