Asgiriya Mahanayaka Thera passes away

The Most Ven. Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Ven. Galagama Attadassi Thera passed away this evening while undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the General Hospital, Kandy, hospital sources said.

The Thera was hospitalised after he fell in the bathroom of the temple this evening.

The Most Ven. Rajakeeya Panditha Galagama Dhammasiddhi Sri Dhammananda Aththadassi Thera was elected as the 21st Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter on May 8, 2015.

The Thera was elected after the passing away of the Most Ven. Aggamahapanditha Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter.

Most Venerable Galagama Sri Aththadassi Thero was born on January 11, 1922 and ordained in 1936. He received the Upasampada in 1942.

The Mahanayake Thera was a scholar and was awarded the degree of Rajakeeya Panditha in 1947. He had also been awarded the degrees of Saddarma Thripitika, Dharmacharya, Tripitaka Acharya, and Majjhima-bhanaka (this last in 1950). The Mahanayake Thera was the deputy head of the Dharmaraja Pirivena of Matale from 1963 to 1977 and head of the Kawatayamuna Pirivena for four years from 1977.

The Most Ven. Galagama Sri Aththadassi Mahanayake Thera had earlier been in charge of Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya, Urulewatte Temple of Asgiriya Raja Maha Viharaya and Alawwa Humbuluwa Temple. The Mahanayake Thera was involved in the ‘Thewawa’ of the Dalada Maligawa in 1981, 1999 and 2000.

He was appointed as Mahanayake of the Asigiriya Chapter on May 8, 2015. He had served as Anunayake from 1998. He was appointed to the Karaka Sanga Sabha of the chapter in 1982. (J.A.L. Jayasinghe, L.B. Senaratne and Nadeeka Dayabandara)