Madihe Pannaseeha Thero

Madihe Pannaseeha Nayaka Thero was born on June 21, 1913 in the village called Madihe in Matara district, as the youngest in a family of five. His lay name was Benson Wilmot.[1][2] Benson Wilmot had his education in the English medium at St.Thomas' College, Matara and later at Mahinda College, Galle.[3][4] At the age of 13 years he entered the Buddhist Order. His ordination was held at Devagiri Vihara, Kabmurugamuwa, on June 24, 1926. He was named 'Madihe Pannasheeha' at the ordination.

An election by secret vote was held on November 27, 1955, at Vajiraramaya, Bambalapitiya, to select the Maha Nayaka ( Great Chief ) Thera to succeed Ven. Palane Vagiragnana Nayake Thera. At the election 141 Bhikkus of the Nikaya cast their votes, and Ven. Madihe Pannasiha received 109, while the other contender received 32 votes. Accordingly, Ven. Madihe Pannasiha was elected as the Maha Nayaka Thera of the Amarapura Sri Dharmarakkhita Nikaya by a clear majority vote.

The certificate for the appointment of Maha Nayaka was handed over at Vajiraramaya Bambalapitiya, in the presence of a very large gathering of Nayaka Theras in Siam, Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas.

A few days after the appointment, Sir Cyril de Zoysa and R.Premadasa, the late President, an MMC Colombo at that time had called on the Maha Nayaka Thera individually and after conferring his good wishes had made a request which has come to effect and that was to incorporate all sects of the Amarapura Nikaya to one. The first Vinaya Karma was held at Maharagama on July 13, 1969. It has not only united the Nikaya, but also made him the head of the United Amarapura Nikaya.

In April 1954 a committee was appointed by the all Ceylon Buddhist Congress composed of members from Buddhist clergy and laity in order to ascertain salient facts about the conditions and ways of Buddhist life. Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Thera was among the members of that committee which issued its report on February 4, 1956.

Sir Oliver Goonetilake, the Governor-General appointed a Buddha Sasana Commission on March 4, 1957 under the chairmanship of Ven. Kalukondayawe Pangnasekera Maha Nayaka Thera and Ven. Madihe Pannasiha was also a member of that Commission, which issued its report after visiting Buddhist countries abroad. After this report was issued, Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayaka Thera took up the issues such as taking over all assisted schools to the government and making all Poya days public holidays.

Maha Nayaka Thera visited China in 1946 for the propagation of Theravada Buddhism. Thero also visited Kathmandu in Nepal for a higher ordination of Bhikahkus in 1951 and in 1954 to establish a Seema Malaka in Lalith Pura, Nepal and he renamed the Buddhist Vihara there from "Young Sumangala Vihara" to "Sri Sumangala Vihara".

Ven. Thera visited Burma on January 4, 1954, and attended the Sixth Buddhist council, and in 1956 during the 2500 Buddha Jayantiya he took part in the establishment of a Seema Malaka.

Maha Nayaka Thera left for America on 27 March 1964 on an invitation from the Asia Foundation to gain an idea of the educational training prevailing there, ways and means of rural development, and also for the propagation of Theravada Buddhism in America. He spent 5 months there and made arrangements to establish a Vihara in Washington in 1964. Other places of his visit were England, West Indies, Scotland, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore. On his return he established the Buddhist Information Centre at Greenpath, Colombo, the first of its kind in order to furnish information to any one who is interested in Buddhism. The World Buddhist Directory is published by this Information Center.

Thero was conferred an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Peradeniya in 1987, and received the honorific title Agga Maha Pandita from Burma in the year 1996. Thero died on September 9, 2003 at the age of 90.

• Lamp of Dhamma lit at Vajiraramaya by Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anunayake Thero
• Section on Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayaka Thero at Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara
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