Mahanayake of the Amarapura Chapter Most Ven. Davuldena Gnanissara Thera passed away yesterday in Colombo after a brief illness. He was 102.
Ven. Gnanissara Thera was elevated to the post of Mahanayake in 2002. In recognition of his invaluable service to the Sasana and the nation, various titles including Agga Maha Panditha, Sahithyasoori, Tripitakacharya, Bhashanthara Visharada, Jinashashanakeerthi Sri Grantha Visharadha, Dvi Bhasha Visharadha, Sanskrit Chakravarthi and Rajakeeya Panditha were conferred on him.
He was born to a family of 11 children on Dec. 31, 1915 at Davuldena in Badulla and entered the Sasana on March 08, 1928.
The Nayake Thera’s remains lie at Sri Vidya Viajayaramaya in Pagoda Road, Nugegoda and the funeral is scheduled to be held on April 06 at the Independence Square with full state honours.
