Profile of a scholar prelate

Ven Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera entered the Bhikku order on February 20, 1956 as a pupil of the then Bellanwila Raja Maha Vihara Chief Incumbent Bellanwila Sri Somaratana Nayaka Thera.

Having received his initial education at the Molligoda Pravachanodaya Pirivena, he entered the Vidyalankara Maha Pirivena for further studies in Buddhism. After graduating with honours from the Kelaniya and Sri Jayewardenepura Universities, he entered the University of Lancaster in Britain in 1977, obtaining his Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D) from the university in 1980. He was appointed Chancellor of the Sri Jayewardenepura University in 2000 and held the position until the time of his death. Prior to his appointment to the post of Chancellor, the prelate held the positions of professor, associate professor, kecturer and visiting Lecturer at the university. He also served as visiting professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

He was appointed as the Anunayaka of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagi Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha in 2009.

He founded the Bellanwila Community Development Foundation and held various positions in several other organisations. The prelate also served in different capacities with the National Institute of Education, Maharagama, the Council of the Post Graduate Institute of Buddhist and Pali Studies of the Kelaniya University, the National Education Commission, the Crime Prevention Committee, the World Buddhist Sangha Council and the Congress of Religions.