Eminent Sangha

Venerable Galboda Sri Gnanissara Maha Thero (Sinhala: ගලබොඩ ඥානිස්සර හිමියන්) is born on December 1943 in the village known as Galboda in Matara. He was ordained as Galboda Gnanissara on the 8th of November 1954, and one of his teachers was Dewundara Ratanajothi. He is also popularly known as Podi Hamuduruwo, which translates to "Little Monk".

Venerable Galboda Gnanissara has performed immense services to the under-privileged youths and traditional artists. One of the projects included the Sri Jinaratana Vocational Training Centre - a professional training institute with branches in various parts of Sri Lanka. Thousands of unemployed are able to gain employable skills and study English Language through the institutes and the English Academy that he had established. With valuable contributions towards the education of children, he also set up the Sumangala Dhamma School and the pre-school on the little island named Singithi Uyana.

Moreover, he also initiated building projects in Gangaramaya Temple which included the beautifully artistic Vihara premises. The Vihara Mandira, Atavisi Buddha Pooja mandira, Bodhimandapa, the preaching hall and the Simamalaka are all works of art and inspire faith among the devotees. Today, Beira Lake with its serene and beautiful environs is a popular tourist attraction.

In 2003, Venerable Galboda Gnanissara has been appointed as the "Sanghanyayaka" (high priest) of the Western Province by the Malwatta Chapter in Sri Lanka. The Asgiriya Chapter has honoured him with the conferment of "Darshana Visharada" equivalent to a doctorate.