Final rites of Venerable Daranagala Kusaladhamma Thero to be held

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - The Final rites of the Late Venerable Daranagala Kusaladhamma Thero will be performed on Thursday (March 8) at the Independence Square under state sponsorship. Shasthravedi Panditha Venerable Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Sambodhi Viharaya in Colombo passed away today (March 3). Born in Daranagama, Makola on the 29th of July 1963, the Venerable Thero was 54 years old at the time of his passing. Venerable Kusaladhamma Thero was highly respected among the Buddhist Community for his services to promote the Dhamma and rendered a great service in creating Thero to carry out this service. For his commitment towards the revival of Buddhism, the Ramanna Maha Sect awarded him the Sambudda Shasana Vishwa Keerthi Sri Saddarma Vibhushana award. The late Thero also served as Chief Incumbents of the Sri Sambodhi Buddhist Meditation Centre in London, UK. According to Venerable Galigamuwe Gnanadeepa Thero, Kusaladhamma Thero was involved in many meritorious deeds and whenever there was an unfortunate situation, Kusaladhamma Thero got involved in the matter and used the material available at the Viharaya. Furthermore, Galigamuwe Gnanadeepa Thero stated that recently Kusaladhamma Thero brought together hundreds of thousands of devotees to the Ruwanweli Maha Seya and the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi for meritorious deeds. Ven. Galigamuwe Gnanadeepa Thero also requested all Buddhists to raise the yellow flag in respect of the late Thero. Venerable Boralande Vajiragnana Thero of Sri Sambodhi Viharaya also taking time stated that venerable Thero rendered a great service during the Thero's short lifespan of 54 years. “He is a Thero who respected by all communities and not only the Buddhists. Everyone will be awarded the opportunity to pay their respects to the Thero from tomorrow morning.” - Venerable Boralande Vajiragnana Thero Thilanga Sumathipala, Deputy Speaker stated that it is impossible to assume that there will be any other Thero who will render such great service to promote the Dhamma other than the late Thero.