Eminent Sangha

Venerable Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero is the Chief Prelate of Singapore, of the Malwatta Chapter of the Siamese Sect (Sri Lanka).

Born in 1941 in Sri Lanka, Venerable was ordained as a novice monk at the tender age of 12. A decade later, at the age of 22, he received higher ordination. In 1964, he earned his First degree at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura under a scholarship programme. Beginning 1969, he travelled to Malaysia and started his training in missionary service under Venerable Dr. K. Sri Dhammanandra Nayaka Theram who became his spiritual patron.

Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero, pioneered the founding of the American - Sri Lanka Buddhist Association of which he is still the Director. In addition he is the current General Secretary of Japan-Sri Lanka Buddhist Centre, of which he was the founder-President. He is the Chief Incumbent monk of Jayanthi Viharaya, Sri Lanka.

In 1979, he came to Singapore which eventually became the hub of his missionary activities. He founded the Singapore Buddhist Meditation Centre (SBMC) and has become its resident missionary monk since.

In the field of Buddhist publications, Venerable has an astonishing chapter of achievements. His magnum opus "Treasury of Truth - Illustrated Dhammapada" received an overwhelming response in Singapore when it was launched. Several universities in the world have given it the status of a textbook. To date, he has published more than 300 titles and has distributed nearly a million copies of these books for free.

He has also mustered support from devotees for various social and religious causes which contributed to the social welfare in Sri Lanka. He established a home for senior citizens, crated a foster parent system which benefits the underprivileged children.