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| Tuesday, 24 August 2004 |
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Milton Dharmasinghe, our Bulathsinhala special corr. The Ven. Rajakeeya Pandit Dr. Horana Vajiragnana Thera, the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Raigam, Salpiti, Hewagam Korales, Editor of Sinhala Encyclopedia, Buddhist scholar and Dhamma preacher passed away on August 21 at a private hospital in Colombo. The Ven. Thera was 85. In 1926 he was born at Kanda Uda Gedera, Horana. His first name was Dharmadasa. He started his basic education at the Horana Buddhist Mixed School where the Ven. Thera was a bright student. On May 29, 1929 he entered the priesthood by the name of Ven. Horana Vajiragnana, the Ven. Horana Pnnasekera Thera, the present Chief Incumbent of the Horan Raja Maha Viharaya, the Ven. Illimbe Dhammalankara, the Chief Adikarana Sangha Nayaka of the Salpiti, Raigam, Hewagam Korales and the late Ven. Mahanuwara Dhammaratana Thera are his fellow monks. The later Thera had passed all Pracheena Bhashopakara Examinations with first class honours. In 1948 he passed the Rajakeeya Pandit Degree with honours. After having worked as a teacher in the Horana Vidyaratna Vidya Pheeta he entered Vidyalankara University for higher studies and received a degree and later obtained the doctorate at the Peradeniya University. After completing his education in many fields he again joined the Horana Vidyaratana Vidya Pheeta as the Pariavenadhipathi. He had to give up this post due to pressure of work but after sometime he was once again appointed the Parivenadhipathi of Vidyaratana Vidya Pheeta. During his period he rendered a yeoman service for the Samanera Bhikkus and the students of Vidyaratana, thus producing hundreds of educated youth in many spheres. However, he had to say goodbye to Vidyaratana Vidya Pheeta as he had to hold a responsible job of work in the name of the nation. He was offered the honourable post of the Editor of Sinhala Encyclopedia. The late Thera was one of the greatest writers of our times. In 1956 he was appointed as a member for Sahithya Anu Mandalaya and in 1957 he became the Chairman of Sahithya Anu Mandalaya. The Thera was a famous Dhamma preacher over the SLBC and Buddhists throughout the country were avid followers of his religious discourses as his language was lucid and his Dhamma talks touched the hearts and minds of all. During his lifetime he wrote more than twenty five books on Sinhala literature, Buddhism, Buddhist literature and on various topics which have been of immense value to students. The Ven. Thera also contributed a lot to Sinhala journals and newspapers such as Silumina, Sinhala Jathiya, Sarasavi Sanda Resa, Budusarana, Navayugaya and Rasavahini by writing very important articles. He also held many honorary posts at national and divisional level. He also published a magazine titled Raigampura Vansa Kata in 2000 in connection with the Literary Month. The passing away of the Ven. Horana Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera is a great loss to the nation, the Buddha Sasana, the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and to the entire world. The cremation of the Ven. Thera will be held on August 25 at 3.00 p.m. at the Horana Public Stadium. May the late Thera attain Nibbana. |
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