About Us
Ananda Buddhist Meditation Centre is situated in the Malwatta monastery in the lake round of Kandy approximately 1.5 km from the Kandy city.
Malwatta Monastery in Kandy is the headquarters of the Malwatta Chapter of Syāmopāli Mahā Nikāya or the Siamese sect of Sri Lanka which is considered as the leading Buddhist monastic fraternity in the country. The history of the monastery goes back to the 18th century. King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe of Kandy (1747-1782 AD.) had constructed a Buddhist monastery in his royal flower garden and offered to Most venerable Welivita Sri Saranankara Sangharaja, the founder of the Siamese Sect of Sri Lanka. Later, it was known as the ‘Malwatta Monastery’, meaning the ‘Monastery in the flower garden’. Malwatta Chapter can be identified as the centre of the Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka. More than 15,000 Buddhist monks with nearly 5000 Buddhist temples who belong to the Malwatta Chapter are spreading the core teachings of the great Lord Buddha to the world.
As the leading Buddhist headquarters of the country, the need of an international Buddhist meditation complex was strongly felt while the meditation is one of the leading parts on the path towards the ultimate liberation of Nibbana in Theravada Buddhism. Many foreign and local individuals used to come often to the monastery in searching of a perfect place with a proper guidance for Buddhist mediation. As a result of this, the Ananda Buddhist Meditation Centre was established in the Sirimalwatta temple of the Malwatta monastery with a peaceful surrounding and a pleasant view.
The Ananda Buddhist Meditation Centre was established in 2020 as a memorial to Most venerable Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Maha thera, the 24th chief prelate of the Malwatta chapter of the Siamese Sect of Sri Lanka. It was founded by venerable Doranegama Sri Rathanapala Maha thera, under the guidance of Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Maha thera, the present chief prelate of the Malwatta chapter. The Meditation Centre was named as ‘Ananda’, as a tribute to the great service rendered by Most venerable Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Mahanayaka thera for the betterment of the Buddhist dispensation of Sri Lanka.
The Meditation Centre consists all the facilities the meditators need, including the individual meditation chambers specially designed for meditators, fine sanitary facilities, an audience hall, a dining hall, a library with a rare book collection and a ‘cankamana’ path for walking meditation. A group of most experienced instructors guides everyone through various kinds of methodologies that suit each other in the practice of Buddhist meditation. Special programs on meditation practices are also available for the beginners. Various discussions on Buddhist teachings and Buddhist meditations are held on special occasions with the participation of many popular local and foreign Dhamma preachers.
Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Mahanayaka Thera
Malwatta chapter of the Siamese sect of Sri Lanka is the leading Buddhist fraternity in the country. It consists of nearly 5000 Buddhist monasteries and more than 15000 Sri Lankan Buddhist monks. There is a supreme Sangha council of 20 members of senior monks for the administration of the chapter. A most senior and a well experienced monk from this council is appointed as the ‘Mahanayaka’ or the chief prelate to hold the supreme leadership of the chapter. The position of the Mahanayaka thera of Malwatta chapter is widely considered as the highest position of the community of Buddhist monks in the Theravada Buddhist dispensation of Sri Lanka. He is highly venerated by Buddhist monks and other religious leaders, political leaders and all the citizens of the country. Even the administrators of the country including the president, the prime minister and the other representatives of the government often visit the Mahanayaka thera to seek blessings and receive advises. Therefore, the position of the chief prelate of the Malwatta chapter represents a major role in Buddhist leadership in the country.
Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Mahanayaka thera was the 24th chief prelate of the Malwatta Chapter who served 16 years from 1973-1989. He was one of the most remarkable Buddhist leaders in the country in late 20th century. Venerable Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda was born on 22th of December 1900 as the elder son of Hembadeniya Mudiyanselage Punchi Rala and his wife. He was named as ‘Kiri Bandara’ by his parents. At the age of 14 he was ordained as ‘Sirimalwatte Ananda’, as a disciple of venerable Mukalanyaye Indajoti Nayaka Thera in 1914. Later he entered to the Sri Sangharaja Maha Pirivena of Malwatta monastery where he completed his degree of Royal Pandit. In 1920, novice Ananda received higher ordination under the preceptorship of Most venerable Amunugama Sri Piyadassi Mahanayaka thera, the 16th chief prelate of the Malwatta chapter.
In 1927, venerable Sirimalwatte Ananda was appointed as a teacher of Sri Sangharaja Maha Pirivena where he completed his monastic education. In 1928 he was bestowed with a position of ‘Kammavāgācariya’ and was engaged in various buddhist disciplinary acts including higher ordinations. Later, he was able to engage in daily rituals in the temple of the sacred tooth relic of Kandy for more than 55 years. Then, he was appointed as the deputy principal of Sri Sangharaja Maha pirivena and later appointed as the chief Sanghanayaka of Harispattuwa (a sub division of Kandy district) in 1950. Moreover, in 1956, most venerable Purijjala Sri Saranankara Mahanayaka thera appointed venerable Ananda as a member and the general secretary of the Supreme Sangha Council of Malwatta chapter. Considering the service rendered by him to the betterment of the chapter, he was later bestowed with the position of ‘Anunayaka’ or the Deputy Chief Prelate of the Malwatta chapter in 1966.
As an appreciation to the service rendered by Venerable Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Anunayaka thera for the progress of Sri Sangharaja Maha Pirivena and the Buddhist monastic education of the country, he was appointed as the principal of Sri Sangharaja Maha Pirivena in 1969. With the demise of most venerable Madugalle Sri Dhammasiddhi Mahanayaka thera, venerable Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Anunayaka Thera was unanimously appointed as the 24th Chief Prelate of the Malwatta chapter of the Siamese Sect in 1973. As the supreme leader of the Buddhist community, He had done a great service for the betterment of the monastic education and the Buddhist dispensation of Sri Lanka.
Venerable Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Mahanayaka Thera was honored with the position of the vice chancellor of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka and the chairmanship of the senate of the Bhikshu University of Sri Lanka. Moreover, he was appointed as the chairman of Buddhist Monastic Education Board of Sri Lanka. Considering the erudition of venerable Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Mahanayaka thera, he was bestowed with the honorary title of ‘Chakravarty of the literature’ by the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka. He was again appreciated with the honorary title of ‘Chakravarty of Āgama (Buddhist teachings)’ by the Bhikshu University of Sri Lanka in 1989 while he was granted a special Doctor rate by the Republic of Korea.
Marking an end to the unmeasurable great service rendered for the betterment of the Buddhist dispensation of Sri Lanka, most venerable Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Mahanayaka Thera was passed away in 1989 at the age of 89. A state funeral was held by the government of Sri Lanka as a tribute to the Mahanayaka Thera.