What was once a swamp adjoining the
famous Beira Lake, a landmark in the capital city, is today a vibrant complex
comprising the Gangaramaya temple, the ‘seema malaka’ – an assembly hall for monks
- in the picturesque Beira Lake and a vocational training institute. The temple
has been in existence for over 120 years having being established by one of the
most famous scholar monks, Venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumanagala Nayaka Thera,
founder of the Vidyodaya Pirivena, originally an institute of oriental learning
for monks, now a State University – Sri Jayewardenapura University.
He appointed his chief pupil,
Devundera Sri Jinaratana Nayake Thera to administer the temple. He laid the
foundation to convert the small temple to what it is today – an institution of
international reckoning. He made Buddhist texts available to the masses,
collected Buddhist artifacts, in addition to the normal facilities for devotees
to worship.
When Devundera Vacissara Nayaka
Thera succeeded him, further expansion of the temple’s activities was
undertaken including the establishment of the Sri Jinaratana Vocational Centre
in memory of his teacher monk.
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