In May2385 BE and 1841 AD Sri Siddhartha Maha Thero, renowned as a religious learned monk, arrived in Ratmalana. His visit came in response to an invitation extended by several devout noble families from the capital who were deeply impressed by his fame.
Among this elite group were notable figures like Don Jeranimus Seneviratne Ralahami, also known as Arachchi Mahathmaya or Panagoda Arachchi, Jayasuriya Arapchige Thedonis Prera Appuhami, Don Philip de Silva Epa Appuhami, and Don Prolis Lekam Ralahami of Ratmalana. They had a collective intention to establish a prestigious college near Colombo under the guidance of Walane Siddhartha Thero, who was renowned for his dedication to dharma, discipline, and linguistic scholarship aiming to foster intellectual pursuits and acquire knowledge.
A wealthy and devout man named Thedonis Appuhami in Colombo expressed interest in purchasing vacant land in front of the "Norman School" to build a monastery as a generous offering. However, Siddhartha Thero, with foresight, declined the offer, foreseeing the potential urban development of Colombo over the next fifty years. He believed that a bustling city environment would not be conducive for the peaceful training of young student monks.
However, Don Jeranimus Seneviratne Ralahami invited Siddhartha Thero to offer a piece of land to make a monastery in the village of Ratmalana, which was the home of a few wealthy elite families with a rural environment at that time but was also home to a few philanthropic wealthy elite families.
Upon arriving in Ratmalana, Siddhartha Thero initially lived in a small abode made of coconut branches, supported by the said virtuous and pious individuals. This marked the humble beginnings of Parama Dhamma Chetiya Maha Pirivena.
From this small abode, teaching began with two or three students, and the main purpose of Pirivena was to teach the threefold Buddhism correctly to the student monks. In a very short period of time, its fame grew and it grew to seventeen student monks, and among those seventeen, the most prominent monks were Sri Sumangala Thero of Hikkaduwa, Sri Dhammaloka Thero of Ratmalana, Sangharakkhita Thero of Denipitiya, Atthadassi Thero of Morapitiya, Devarakkhita Thero of Batuantuda, Sarankara of Baddegama. Thero, Koggala Kavithilaka Thero, Udugampola Ratanapala Thero, Medagama Sumana Thero, Ganegama Upananda Thero, Labugama Thero and Suriyagoda Sonuttara Thero.
Those student monks from Parama Dhamma Chethiya Maha Pirivena went on to play significant roles in the Buddhist renaissance of Sri Lanka. Among them, Sri Sumangala Nahimi of Hikkaduwa distinguished himself by supporting the Buddhist side in pivotal religious debates such as the Panadura Controversy and Baddega Controversy. He later founded Vidyodaya Pirivena in Maligakanda in 1873. Similarly, Sri Dhammaloka Nahimi of Ratmalana established Vidyalankara Pirivena in 1875, which evolved into Kelaniya University. Thus, Parama Dhamma Chethiya Maha Pirivena is celebrated as the cradle of numerous Buddhist educational institutions, including Vidyodaya Pirivena in Maligakanda, Colombo, and Vidyalankara Pirivena in Peliyagoda.
However, Siddhartha Thero maintained his connection with Walana temple and continued to reside both in Walana and Ratmalana. A group of devotees, led by Don Prolis Lekam Ralahami, approached Siddhartha Thero and urged him to permanently settle in Ratmalana. In 1849, Siddhartha Thero accepted their invitation and moved to Ratmalana Parama Dhamma Viharaya for permanent residence.
As the fame of Parama Dhamma Chetiya Maha Pirivena grew day by day, the number of students exceeded one hundred. A group of devoted donors purchased four adjacent pieces of land and donated them to the temple. A beautiful monastery, consisting of three buildings, was constructed and inaugurated. From then on, it became known as "Parama Dhamma Chetiyarama," a name rich in significance. During the inauguration ceremony, it is recorded that pirith chanting was conducted continuously for three months. The Dharma hall, where sermons were delivered, was said to be seven stories tall, and one hundred monks participated in the pirith chanting ceremonies held there.
Walane Sri Siddhartha Thero, who illuminated the world with the Dhamma, passed away in 1868, exemplifying the Buddha's teaching on impermanence.
Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Era
After Walane Sri Siddhartha Maha Thero, Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Maha Thero became the Chief Incumbent of Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena. From 1868 to 1870, he filled the gap left by Siddhartha Thero, providing Dharma education to both lay and monastic students. However, as Buddhist influence in the capital was waning, he accepted an invitation from the Buddhist elites in Colombo and founded the Maligakande Vidyodaya Pirivena in 1873, which later became an internationally renowned Buddhist institute. Despite his new responsibilities, Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Maha Thero maintained his connection with Parama Dhamma Chetiya Maha Pirivena. He regarded Ratmalana as an ideal place for training promising young novice monks and often directed them to Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena to study Dhamma.
After Sumangala Maha Thero, the position of Chief Incumbent of Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena was held by Morapitiye Atthadassi Thero, Denipitiye Sangharakkhita Thero, and Ratmalane Sumanatissa Thero from 1870 to 1887. All three were students of Siddhartha Maha Thero and continued his legacy by leading the Pirivena and imparting Dharma education.
Walane Dammananda Era
Walane Dhammananda Maha Thero, a brilliant student of Sri Siddhartha Thero, assumed the position of Chief Incumbent of Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena in 1887. He had also mastered the Dhamma under Sumangala Maha Thero and had served as a lecturer at Vidyodaya Maha Pirivena. 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.
