Anunayake Of The Asgiriya Chapter Passes Away at 67

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Buddhist community is in mourning following the passing of the Anunayake of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Sect, The Most Venerable Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi Thera. 

The Most Venerable Thero passed away early this morning at the age of 67, while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kandy.

The final rites will be held on July 24 at the Asgiriya Police Grounds in Kandy, with full state sponorship.

Born on September 3, 1958, as the fifth child in a family of seven, Ven. Dhammadassi Thera received his early education at Anamaduwa Central College and Maliyadeva College in Kurunegala. 

He entered the monastic order on May 19, 1976 at the Sri Gnaneswara Pirivena at the Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple, and received his higher ordination in 1979 at the Mangala Uposathagara of the Asgiriya Maha Vihara.

A distinguished scholar, he earned a special degree in Pali from the University of Peradeniya in 1985, followed by a Master’s degree in Buddhist Studies from the affiliated institute of the University of Kelaniya in 1990. In 1998, he was awarded a postgraduate degree in education from the University of Peradeniya.

The late Ven. Dhammadassi Thera held the position of Chair at the Kandy Sanarakshaka Balamandalaya, the Kandy Range Sanarakshaka Balamandalaya as well as Deputy Chair of the All Ceylon Sanarakshaka Balamandalaya.

Ven. Dhammadassi Thera served as a senior lecturer at the Sri Lanka Bhikkhu University in Anuradhapura for 12 years.

In 2002, he was appointed to the executive committee of the Asgiriya Chapter and later became its Chief Secretary in 2008, where he played a pivotal role in establishing a formal administrative office for the chapter. 

He was appointed Anunayake on May 5, 2016.