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Dhammananda Thero, a disciple of Walane Sri Siddhartha Maha Thero, contributed to major developments at Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena. During his leadership, the "Menik Pilimaya" statue, believed to be crafted by King Dutugemunu, was brought to the temple. Many notable scholars studied under him and marked a distinguished era for the Pirivena.
Chief Incumbent
1887 - 1911
Dhammananda Thero, a disciple of Walane Sri Siddhartha Maha Thero, contributed to major developments at Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena. During his leadership, the "Menik Pilimaya" statue, believed to be crafted by King Dutugemunu, was brought to the temple.
Many notable scholars studied under him and marked a distinguished era for the Pirivena.
Walane Dhammananda Maha Thero was a brilliant student of Walane Sri Siddhartha Maha Thero who was the founder of Parama Dhamma Chethiya Maha Pirivena. He also mastered the Dhamma under Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Maha Thero and served as a lecturer at Vidyodaya Maha Pirivena.
He assumed the position of Chief Incumbent of Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena in 1887. Walane Dhammananda Maha Thero accepted the position of Chief Incumbent at the invitation of Buddha Sasana Maha Sura Senapati Rajadattiya Namopalakshitha Dharmaratne Padithuma. During his tenure, the "Parama Dhamma Chetiyaramaya" began to be known as "Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena," marking a new era in its history.
During Dhammananda Thero's tenure, the sacred Buddha statue, believed to have been established by the great King Dutugemunu in a rock cave in Wilgammula, Kurunegala District, was brought to the Parama Dhamma Pirivena's grounds. A Buddha Mandira was constructed to house this revered statue. Known today as the "Menik Pilimaya (Gem Statue)," it is believed to contain a Blood Ruby as a treasure of the omniscient relics. In 1892, the Burmese Queen Singdunmibaya had this statue plated with gold. She also sent two other marble Buddha statues, which are now placed on both sides of the gem statue.
Not long after, the King of Cambodia visited Ceylon on his way to see Queen Victoria and arrived in Colombo. During his visit to Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena, he made a generous donation for the construction of a Dharma Hall, which was lacking at that time. The hall was completed with intricately engraved wooden structures and foreign roofing tiles.
The era of Dhammananda Thero was a brilliant period for Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena. During this time, a large number of laypeople and monks studied Dhamma there. Notable scholars such as Rajakiya Panditha Vidurupola Piyatissa Maha Thero, Gabbela Sirinivasa Thero, Matale Dhammasiddhi Thero, and Pimbure Vachissara Thero were among those who studied at the Pirivena under Dhammananda Maha Thero. Rajakiya Panditha Vidurupola Piyatissa Mahanayake Thero brought great fame to the Pirivena by excelling in the Oriental exam with honors in Sinhala, Pali, and Sanskrit. Vidurupola Piyatissa Thero was the first in the country to receive the Pandit degree with the prestigious Ubhayasekhara gold seal, thereby enhancing the reputation of Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena.
Thus, Walane Dhammananda Maha Thero passed away in 1911, marking the end of a brilliant era for Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena.
