Ven. Higgoda Udayadhamma Nayaka Thero Receives Prestigious Sangha Title

Ven. Higgoda Udayadhamma Nayaka Thero, the Parivenadhipathi of the Sri Pannananda Pirivena in Giriulla, Maharagama, was recently conferred the title of ‘Saddharma Keerthi Sri Piyarathana’, the Head of the Lower Dolospattuwa Court Sangha. The welcoming ceremony for the newly appointed Thero will be held on March 29 (today) at 2:00 PM at the Bandaranaike Memorial Conference Hall, Colombo. It is scheduled to be held with the participation of the Maha Sangha Ratna led by the Trinitarian Mahanayaka Theros and several lay dignitaries, including the Honourable Speaker of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Ven. Higgoda Udayadhamma Nayaka Thero is a venerable Thero who has rendered great service to the Sri Lankan Sangha and who has further enhanced that service through international Buddhist relations.  The Venerable was born on July 9, 1975, in Higgoda village in Kegalle district. He was ordained on March 27, 1991, after completing his 10th grade in school. The Thero, who was ordained under the name Higgoda Udayadhamma, was mentored by the Ven. Maharagama Sri Piyarathana and Thummudune Pannyananda.

He received the highly ordained monkhood on May 18, 1995, and lived a very honourable monk life. He received his higher education from Maligakanda Vidyodaya Pirivena in 1995 and received his Royal Pandita Honorary Degree from Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Pirivena in 1997. He then obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka in 2011. Ven. Udayadhamma Thero also acquired a very good knowledge of languages, which was increasingly helpful in his religious activities.

He authored scholarly works such as “Delowa Diyunuwata Maga” and “Social Reality Revealed through Twelve Great Dreams” he expressed their gratitude to Venerable Akuretiye Amaravansa Nayaka Thero and the late Aggamaha Pandita Velamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thero, who had especially encouraged the scholarly life of this monk.

He took the initiative to build the Sri Piyarathana Buddhist Center in Giriulla town. Furthermore, Udayadhamma Thero made great efforts to fulfill a high Dharma Shastra mission through the Sri Pangnananda Primary Pirivena. In addition, the Weliwatta Dhamma Sevana Buddhist Center in Rajagiriya and the Alawwa Madawala Satbodhi International Meditation Center were also religious institutions that flourished due to his courage. 

The Ven. Thero is an experienced monk who has strengthened ties with many Buddhist countries around the world and is involved in organising pilgrimage tours to Buddhist shrines. His Holiness’s Dhamma tours take place in many Buddhist countries, especially India. He currently holds the position of Deputy Secretary of the Overseas Buddhist Pilgrimage Organisation. We wish Ven. Higgoda Udayadhamma Nayaka Thero, who is working tirelessly for the advancement of the Buddhist order in Sri Lanka, a long life and good health, and the strength and courage to continue his dharma and scholarly service.