Ven. Wewaldeniye Medhalankara Maha Nayaka Thera's State funeral tomorrow

The cremation of Ramanna Maha Nikaya Mahanayaka, the Most Ven Wewaldeniye Medhalankara Thera will take place with State honours at the Mirigama National School Playground tomorrow. The Thera passed away on August 29 at Mirigama Sasanawardana Pirivena at the age of 103. The day of the funeral was declared a day of national mourning by the Government.

All bars and liquor outlets islandwide will be closed on this day.

The Thera was ordained on May 26, 1922 under the tutelage of Ven. Kathaluwe Silavansa Nayaka Thera, the chief prelate of Abhayagiriya Temple in Anuradhapura and Ven. Kadiragama Sumanasara Thera.

The Thera attended Nittambuwa Vidyananda Pirivena and received higher ordination on May 12, 1930.

The Thera had been practising monastic disciplinary rules and studying doctrine for about four years before returning to the Sasanawardana Piriven Vihara in Mirigama. As a layman he was educated at Tholangamuwa Central College.

He was also the Mahopadya of the Buddhist and Pali University.