Ven. Deegala Sumanajothi Thera

Chief Incumbent of the Deegala Pothgul Vihara, Katugasthota Thri Sinhala Seemaramya, Ulapane Isipthanaramaya and Rajangana Sri Sumangalaramaya temples, Ven. Deegala Sri Sumanajothi Thera who received credentials as Pathadumbara Chief Sanghanayake from the Karaka Sangha Sabha of the Siamese Sect is a towering figure in the Sangha Sasana in the country. 

 
Born on April 7, 1946 at Deegala in Harispattuwa in the Kandy district to the family of Udurawana Abeysinghe Mudiyanselage Dingiri Banda and Deegala Herath Mudiyanselage Lokumenike he entered the order on November 27, 1957 under the tutelage of the then Chief Incumbent of the Deegala Pothgul Vihara Ven. Deegala Sri Sumangala Thera.   

Ven. Thera who dedicated his life for the spiritual life was conscious of his responsibility to uplift the religious education

Ven. Sri Sumanajothi Thera, was a novice monk who pursued his studies with unstinted courage amid innumerable hardships was widely respected and revered for his extraordinary courage and determination he displayed in practicing the noble life as a Buddhist monk and his skills in preaching early in his life.   

Ven. Thera who had his primary education at the Sri Sangharaja Pirivena and at the Heramitigala Shastralankara Pirivena in Kandy entered the Vidyalankara University in 1965 and  is a Bachelor of Arts  (Honours) graduate. It was of significance that the Ven. Sri Sumanajothi Thera pursued his studies in oriental languages as a prerequisite for a scholar Buddhist monk and passed the final examination.   

Ven. Sri Sumanajothi novice monk,  received higher ordination at the Mangala Upostagana conference hall of the Malwatta Chapter in Kandy under the tutelage of Ven. Amunugama Rajaguru Sri Vipassi Thera on May 11,1968.   

Appointed as the Vice Principal of the Palugasdamana Sri Vidyasara Pirivena, on January 20, 1970 he was destined to be the Head of the Balalla Sri Deepaloka Pirivena in Kurunegala. He commanded high recognition for his endeavours to uplift the Pirivena as a leading educational institute in the district. Ven. Thera who bid farewell to the Pirivena teaching service took up appointment as a graduate teacher of the Sinhala Maha Vidyalaya in Kankasanthurai on November 1, 1976. As a government teacher he served at the Diyabokandura Vidyalaya in Kandy for a short time until he was appointed as Principal of his alma mater Deegala Maha Vidyalaya in Kandy on January 13, 1978. 

 
Ven. Thera who dedicated his life for the spiritual life was conscious of his responsibility to uplift the religious education. Dhamma school education in the Harispattuwa developed fast due the efforts of the Ven. Sumanajothi Thera and 112 Dhamma schools established by him stands to his credit.   

Ven. Thera who started his career as the Vice Principal of a Pirivena, held the position of Grade l principal in several government schools and retired on April 16, 2006 after 35 years of service.   

At present Ven. Thera is the Chief Incumbent of Deegala, Pothgulvihara, Kurundeniya Pethigepitiya Vihara, Rajangana Sri Sumangalaramaya, Katugastota Thri Sinhala Seemaramaya and Ulapane Sri Isipathanaramaya and head of the Sri Nivasa Pirivena in Kandy. Ven. Thera forcussed his particular attention on the uplift of Thri Sinhala Seemamalaka in Katugastota that had declined due to neglect. He provided his guidance to the Chief Organiser of the Dayaka Sabha U.B. Ekanayaka and its members Gamini Antaragama, and B.G. Piyasiri who undertook the task of restoring the temple to its present glory.   

Sirinivasa Pirivena in Kandy founded by Ven. Sumanajothi Thera in 1995 has been the hub of religious education in the area. The Pirivena is staffed by ten teachers including Ven. Deegala Chandrajothi Thera and headed by Ven. Gemunupura Rathanajothi Thera.   

The All Island Ranaviru Foundation and the Ranaviru Memorial Hall founded by Ven. Sumanajothi Thera as a tribute to the police and security personnel who laid down their life to protect the unitary state of the country will stand as a national monument.   

Mudiyanse Bandaranayaka   
Hon. President, Dayaka Sabha   Three Sinhala Seemaramaya   
Katugastota.