Conferring of title of Agga Maha Panditha on Anunayake Thera

The religious title “Agga Maha Panditha”  was conferred on the Most Ven. Prof. Kotapitiye Rahula Anunayake Thera of Sri Lanka by the government of Myanmar last Monday, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Yangon said.  

The ceremony was held at the State Pariyatti Sasana University in Yangon and the religious title was presented to the Most Ven. Prof. Anunayake Thera by the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, U Tun Ko.  

The Venerable Theras from foreign countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Thailand, Korea, India, Vietnam and the United States of America attended this religious ceremony to receive the honorary title from the Government of Myanmar. The event was attended by Charge d’affaires K.H.C. Sankapali and embassy officials.  

A 13 member Buddhist delegation headed by Most Ven. Prof. Anunayake Thera visited many historic and culturally enriched places and cites in Myanmar including Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Bago and Bagan from February 29  to March 11  and paid homage to the Sacred Shwe Dagon Pagoda. During the visit The Most Ven. Thera conducted lectures on the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka at Theravada Buddhist University in Yangon, Sitagu Ketumati Buddhist Academy in Bago and Sitagu Buddhist Academy in Mandalay.