Ven Diviyagaha Yasassi Nayaka thero honoured with Upadhyaya title

Saddharma Keerthi Sri Thripitakacharya Ven. Dr. Diviyagaha Yassassi Nayaka Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Bauddhayatanaya at Watarappala Road, Mount Lavinia, retired Deputy Principal of Ananda College, Colombo, Former Principal of Bhikku Training College, Ratmalana, Vice President of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, has been conferred the Upadhyaya title by the Most Venerable Mahanayaka thero and the executive council of the Malwatte chapter, in recognition of the national, religious and social services rendered by him to society.

In 1998, he was conferred with the title of Chief of Judicial and Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Nava Korale in Colombo. The Alumni Association of Sri Jayawardenapura University presented the “Sri Jayawardenapura Pradeepa” award and in 2020, Lincoln University of Malaysia awarded an honorary Doctorate to the Nayaka thero.

The conferring ceremony was held on June 24 at the Uposathagaraya of the Malwatte Maha Viharaya, headed by, Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangalabhidana Mahanayaka thero. Chief Sanganayaka of Southern Sri Lanka, Chief incumbent of Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya, Upadhyaya Most Venerable Mataramba Hemarathana Nayaka Thero, Chief Sanganayaka of Seenadi Siv Korale, Chief incumbent of Attanagalla Rajamaha viharaya, Upadhyaya Ven, Dr. Pannila Ananda Nayaka thero, Vidyalankara Parivenadipathi, Ven. Welamitiyawe Gnanarathana nayaka thero and many other distinguished monks participated at the ceremony.

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Somarathna Vidanapathirana, President of Bauddhaloka Foundation Jagath Sumathipala, Principal of Ananda College Lal Dissanayaka, Senior Professor Raja Gunawardana, Presidents Counsel Prasantha Lal de Alwis along with many distinguished guests were present. Several samanera bikkhus were higher ordained under the “Upadhyaya” of Ven. Yasassi Nayaka thero on that day.

A special poojawa to invoke blessings on Ven. Dr. Diviyagaha Yasassi Nayaka thero was held on Saturday evening at the Dalada Maligawa. A special Atavisi Buddha Poojawa will be held at the Bauddhayatanaya, Mt. Lavinia on the at 6.00 pm today (June 25) with the participation of the Chief Incumbent of Dewram Viharaya, Pannipitiya and Maha Nayaka of Sri Sumana Chapter of the Amarapura Nikaya, Ven. Kolonnawe Sri Sumangala thero.