Saffron robes, no deterrent to creative thinking

Harshini PERERA

Ven. Hungampala Sirirathana Nayaka Thera, Chief Priest of New Jersey Buddhist Vihara.	Ven. Imbulavitiye Medhananda Thera

Neither the saffron robe nor the Paramees prevented him from creative thinking. He brings out the virtues of the Buddha in his creations.. He is a monk, an artist and a sculptor. Ven. Imbulavitiye Medhananda Thera, sculpts Buddha statues out of clay and fibre.

Buddha's qualities are depicted in his creations. Born in the remote village of Imbulavitiya in Kuruwita, Ven. Imbulavitiye Thera, received his primary education at Mahawattakanda school and committed himself to the priesthood under the tutelage of the Chief Priest Ven. Patberiya Sri Somananda Thera. On completion of his secondary education at Chetiyagiri Pirivena at Pussella, he later entered the University of Jayawardenapura to master his craft.

His sculptor father, W.A. Gunawardena would have bequeathed his skills upon his son.

He showed early signs of his talents when he was just 14 years.

"I was gifted with an inborn skill in drawing but when it came to sculpting it was mainly under the tutelage of renowned sculptor, Ariyapala Gamage that I mastered the art. "Today, the monk stand as a renowned sculptor recognised in various countries."

At the new Polonnaruwa Galvihare in Dehiwala, Colombo he has sculpted the Buddha statues which are similar to those in Polonnaruwa Galvihare. There is also a Samadhi statue which has a height of 15 feet, and a "Hiti" or standing position statue of rare Swasthika posture. They are all starkly identical with those at Polonnaruwa Galvihare.

The young monk is quite humble for what he has been doing for the Buddhist culture of our country. The Buddha statue in front of Kirulapona Police Station is also one of his creations.

At present he is engaged in an uphill task of sculpting a gigantic Buddha statue in New Jersey Buddhist Vihara in United States.

The statue which is in the process of construction in New Jersey is a concept of Ven. Hungampola Siriratana Nayake Thera. Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has made a donation to the project. This Samadhi statue is being created on a lotus flower for which around 2400 bricks. were used.

The monk says he is grateful to Ven. Hungampola Siriratana Nayake Thera, chief priest of the New Jersey Vihara , Sunil Ariyarathna and Chandra Wickrama Gamage for the patronage they have extended to him.