Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero |
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| පූජ්ය මාදුළුවාවේ සෝභිත හිමි | |
Sobitha Thero in 2015.
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| Religion | Buddhism |
| School | Theravada |
| Lineage | Siam Sect |
| Temple | Kotte Naga Vihara |
| Alma mater | Vidyalankara Pirivena University of Sri Jayewardenepura |
| Dharma names | Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero |
| Personal | |
| Nationality |  Sri Lankan |
| Born | Pathirage Don Rathnasekara 29 May 1942 Padukka, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 6 November 2015 (aged 73) Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore |
| Cause of death | Complications from Heart Surgery |
| Parents | Pathirage Don Peiris Appuhamy (Father) Kuruwita Arachchige Karalinahami (Mother) |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Chief Incumbent of the Kotte Naga Vihara |
Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero (Sinhala: මාදුළුවාවේ සෝභිත හිමි; born May 29, 1942 – died November 6, 2015) was a very important Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka. He was known for his peaceful leadership and for working to make Sri Lankan politics better. He was also the head monk of the Kotte Naga Vihara temple.
Sobitha Thero was a strong voice for positive change in Sri Lanka. He worked hard to improve the country's political system. He believed in fairness and justice for everyone.
Early Life and Becoming a Monk
Sobitha Thero was born on May 29, 1942, in a village called Maduluwewa. This day is known as Vesak, a special Buddhist holiday. His birth name was Pathirage Don Rathnasekara.
He started living at a temple in Padukka when he was 11 years old. His uncle, who was a head monk, guided him. On May 9, 1955, he became a novice monk at the Kotte Sri Naga Viharaya.
In 1962, he received his higher ordination as a monk. He had studied at important Buddhist schools called Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara Pirivenas. He also earned an honorary doctorate from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 1964. In 1967, he became the chief monk of the Kotte Naga Viharaya.
His Passing
Sobitha Thero passed away on November 6, 2015, in Singapore. He was 73 years old. The government of Sri Lanka honored him with a state funeral. They also declared a day of national mourning to remember him.
Working for Social Change
Sobitha Thero was very active in working for social change in Sri Lanka. He spoke out against some political practices of the time. He believed in protecting freedom of speech and civil rights for all people.
He was also a key leader in the late 1980s. He helped lead campaigns against outside interference in Sri Lanka. He was a great speaker who could bring many different people together.
He used his influence to fight for a more democratic government. He helped create the National Movement for a Just Society (NMJS). This movement brought together many groups, including trade unions, artists, and professionals.
Sobitha Thero played a big part in bringing a new government to power in 2015. He supported Maithripala Sirisena for president. He also supported Ranil Wickremesinghe to form a new government. He worked to promote respect and friendship among different religious and language groups in the country.
See also
- 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election
- New Democratic Front (Sri Lanka)
- Athuraliye Rathana Thero
