Supreme Grand Leader of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha, Maha Mahopadhyaya Aggamahapandita Venerable Dodampahala Chandasiri Thero has passed away today (16).
Other than the tile of Supreme Grand Leader of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha, Dodampahala Chandasiri Thero held the positions of thadiya shakha categories including Abhidhajarattaguru, Aggamahapanditha, Kalapaluwawa Gotama Thapovanaya and also awarded with honorary tiles Kalyaniwansa Keerthi Sri Vangisawamsalankara, Vipassanakammattakacharya, Maha Mahopadhyaya Aghapapariya.
Born on December 20, 1939 in the village of Ramaniya, Dodampahala, Matara, to Ediriveera Patabandige Saraneris Silva and Edrisuriya Patabandige Missinona Upasikawa. He received his primary education from Dodampahala Central High School.
On November 25, 1950, Dodampahala Chandrasiri Thero, who became a monk in Kudavella Valukaramaya, entered Matara Veeraba Piriven and gained authentic knowledge of Sinhala Pali Sanskrit, History, Archeology, Chandolankara, etc.
On June 17, 1962, Chandasiri Thero, who trained in Vipassana meditation after receiving his ordination at the Nilwala river Sima Malaka in Matara, acquired a plot of eight acres of land in Kalapaluwawa area in 1962 and built a meditation center there called ‘Gothama Thapovana’ together with his leader Highness Kuduwelle Vangeesa Adhikarana Nayaka Thero.
After Kuduwelle Vangeesa Adhikarana Nayaka Thero passed away in 1962, Dodampahala Chandasiri Thero assumed the position of chief of the main branch centers of Sri Gothama Thapovanaya. Today, the Vipassana meditation method has spread all over the country.
Vimalakirthi Sri Koggala Siri Visuddhi Nayaka passed away in the year 1996, and Dodampahala Chandasiri Nayaka Thero, who held the Anunayaka position until then, was unanimously appointed the ‘Mahanayaka’ by the Kalyaniwanshika Sangha Sabha which met at Shailabimbarama Maha Vihara, Dodanduwa on March 31, 1996.
Dodampahala Chandasiri Thero worked to unite the Kalyanivansha sect, which was divided into three parts, and the second centenary of the Kalyanivansha sect was organized in a grand manner in 2010.
He, who was eloquent in words, style of walking and lifestyle, and held the position of Vice President of Sri Lankan Amarapura Maga Sangha Sabha, was honoured unanimously with the Great Leader position of that Sanga Sabha on 23 February 2013. Chandasiri Thero completed his five-year tenure in 2018 was honoured with the title of Maha Mahopadhyaya of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya in the same year.
Dodampahala Chandasiri Mahanayaka Thero, who is engaged in a noble world religious service, was awarded the Aggamaha Pandit degree by the Myanmar government on January 04, 2021, and was honoured as the fourth Supreme Mahanayake of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha on July 20, 2021. Dodampahala Chandasiri thero held that title until his death.
