The 79th birth anniversary of Gangaramaya Temple Chief Incumbent Venerable Galaboda Gnanissara Thera, popularly known as “Podi Hamuduruwo”, falls today, 14 December, and the temple has organised a series of charitable events to commemorate the occasion.

As a part of these events, alms will be offered to 250 bhikkhus and 150 scholarships will be awarded to selected samanera bhikkhus enabling them to study up to the Pracheena examination. Scholarships to the value of Rs. 5,000 per month will be awarded to 60 deserving university students while dry rations will be given to 500 selected families in need. 

Podi Hamuduruwo, hailing from Galaboda in Matara, was born on 14 December 1943 and ordained as a monk in 1954 at the age of ten years, under the tutelage of Ven. Devundara Vachissara Thera who was the Chief Incumbent of the Gangaramaya temple at the time. The young monk of the temple, from that day onwards, became known as Podi Hamuduruwo.

His teacher Vachissara Thera was an educationist and ardent supporter of Sri Lankan culture and values who stressed the need for enhancing social stability through the temple, which has guided Podi Hamuduruwo’s path in life.

The day that Podi Hamuduruwo was ordained was an auspicious day, as Vachissara Thera also initiated a pirivena at the Gangaramaya Temple on the same day, which was named Sri Gnanissara Pirivena. It is here that Podi Hamuduruwo started his education as a young monk.

The young Galaboda Gnanissara Thera studied the Buddha Dhamma in depth at the pirivena. His teacher Devundara Vacissara Thera was a forward-thinking monk and was well-versed in English, Sinhala, Pali, and Sanskrit. He was well-known in the Buddhist world for his sermons.

While on a religious tour to Malaysia, Vachissara Thera’s eyesight became weak and he had to undergo eye surgery there. Upon returning to Sri Lanka, his poor eyesight made running of the temple a difficult task. Therefore, at the young age of 16, Podi Hamuduruwo was entrusted with the administration of the Gangaramaya Temple.

He showed signs of maturity and strength even at that young age and effectively managed the affairs of the temple while also continuing with his studies. He focused on making the temple a centre for all human beings regardless of caste, creed, or race and thus social service became a key aspect of the temple.

Around this time, Podi Hamuduruwo graduated from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura and thereafter proceeded to the UK for further studies. Having been exposed to Western education and culture, he returned to Sri Lanka determined to use his knowledge for the betterment of his fellow countrymen.

Galaboda Gnanissara Thera was appointed as the Chief Incumbent of the Ganagaramaya Temple at a tender age. Keeping in line with the tradition of his predecessors, Podi Hamuduruwo expanded the activities of Gangaramaya Temple to make it a truly people-oriented institution where the welfare of the masses would always be a high priority.

Even today, although he is the Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya, he is fondly known as Podi Hamuduruwo because that name has not left the hearts of the devotees who know him so well. Podi Hamuduruwo is the Sanga Nayaka of the Nawa Korale. He was also the Sanga Nayake of the Sri Lankan Buddhist Temples in the US, however, he made this decision to give up this post and bestow it on one of the senior priests residing in the US.

His social work encompasses a wide range such as vocational training for the youth, running orphanages, providing free accommodation to those on pilgrimage to Katharagama, and conserving the environment by planting trees. He has been helping to revive the traditions of Buddhism while guiding both the country’s leaders and the common man in doing what is right.

Podi Hamuduruwo was instrumental in the establishment of the Jinaratana Vocational Training Institute to guide the youth who had their education disrupted during the troubled 80s. Under his guidance and leadership, the institute has been conducting training courses in mechanics, electronics, carpentry, and so forth on a concessionary basis providing government-recognised certificates thus introducing students to society as qualified individuals. Many students who rebuilt their lives through this vocational training institute are now doing well in various fields at home and abroad.

The Nawam Maha Perahera of Gangaramaya, the beautiful cultural festival held in the city of Colombo, is another initiative of Podi Hamuduruwo. This colourful pageant featuring a large number of elephants, traditional dancers, and fireworks has revolutionised the perahera culture in the country giving opportunities to artists from all over the country.

At one time, Podi Hamuduruwo was an Advisor to the Ministry of Education and he did an immense service for the development of Pirivena education in Sri Lanka. Approximately 570 Pirivenas were given due recognition as educational institutes at the time.

Over the years, all the leaders of the country have maintained close relations with Podi Hamuduruwo and have often sought his guidance and blessings. Being fearless and forthright, he never hesitated to voice his concerns on important issues in the presence of the country’s leaders and always stood for what he believed to be right.

Podi Hamuduruwo always came forward to safeguard the interests of the country and never thought about what others would think of him while doing what he felt was right. He has the capacity to deal with loss, pain, suffering and good fortune equally.

He has trained a generation of bhikkhus within the Gangaramaya Temple who would follow his path and continue his vision. On his birth anniversary, we wish Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera good health, happiness, and longevity. 

(Gamini Abeywardena)