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| Sunday, 1 May 2005 |
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Ven. Horana Pannasekere Nayaka Maha Thera : Sangha Nayaka of three Korales by Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalaratana. Sri Lanka is well known for a large number of devoted, erudite monks who have performed quite commendable service as Buddhist missionaries. Among these missionary monks Ven. Horana Pannasekere Nayaka Maha Thera occupies a very prominent place because of his indefatigable service, self-efficient nature, his affable qualities, wide experience in missionary activities and above all for the selfless service he renders. Ven. Pannasekera Nayaka Maha Thera is the Spiritual Director of Thames Buddhist Vihara. It was on the invitation of Ven. Pahalagama Somaratana Nayaka Thera, the Chief Incumbent of Thames Buddhist Vihara, that Ven. Pannasekera Nayaka Thera came to London in 1982. His services have been appreciated so much that in addition to being appointed its spiritual Director, he has been appointed the Patron of the Vihara, and the Thames Meditation Association. He has also been appointed the Patron of the Sri Lanka Sangha Association of Great Britain, since its inception in 1992. He has been in the Order for nearly seven decades, and that speaks eloquently for his dedication to religious life and religious service. Having obtained his early monastic education at Horana Rajamaha Viharaya, of which he subsequently became the Chief Incumbent. As a young monk he was much inclined to learn Pali and other oriental languages and was successful in obtaining the Royal Pandit degree. He also obtained a BA Honours degree in 1965 from the University of Ceylon. He has been very successful as a teacher serving in a number of schools and winning admiration and adoration of the staff members and the students of these schools. He rendered commendable service as the Director of the Horana Vidyaratana Pirivena, one of the well known monastic educational centres in the country. He learnt meditation at the famous Kanduboda Meditation Centre and also at the Talagala Meditation Centre, another well known meditation training centre. To widen his meditative experience he underwent training at the Ehiji Meditation Centre in Japan. All these have stood in good stead for him to fulfil his role as a missionary monk in different climes, serving people of different cultures. As an academician he has helped Professor Egaku Mayeda of the Aichigakun University of Japan in successfully carrying out the research project dealing with the role of Theravada Buddhism in contemporary Sinhala society. This service carried out in 1982 has been appreciated even by the Ministry of Education of Japan. He is a true Kalyana Mitta to all who are following the Dhamma. With his lucid exposition of the Dhamma he clearly shows the way to many who seek guidance. He is a sought-after meditation master, whose instructions have benefitted a large number of his followers. His service to the Sasana has been recognised not only by his followers but also by the Sangha community. Therefore, the Malwatte Chapter of the Shyamopali Maha Nikaya of which he is a member has decided to honour his invaluable service both here and abroad, by conferring upon him the title of Sangha Nayaka of the Raigama-Salpiti-Hewagam three Korale territories.
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