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Last rites for Soma Thera next Sunday
The last rites of the Most Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera who passed away at the age of 55 on Friday will be held in Colombo. The body will be flown to Colombo tomorrow.

Ven. Soma Thera went to Russia a few days ago to receive an honorary degree in Buddhist Philosophy from a Russian university. The thera who had been ill prior to leaving had developed chest pains while in Russia. Ven. Soma Thera passed away at St. Petersburg City Hospital.

Entering the Buddhist Order at a young age, Ven. Soma Thera had the ability to draw large crowds through his forceful sermons. His recent sermons on TV greatly influenced the young and old to lead a simple life and to search for the true meaning of Buddhism.

Outspoken in his sermons, the thera was very often critical of politicians, whom he believed were only concerned about themselves. He strived hard to inculcate in Sinhala Buddhists the importance of protecting Buddhism in the country and defending Mother Lanka. On many occasions he spoke out against all forms of religions, blaming them of influencing the Sinhala Buddhists. He fought against unethical conversions stating that they had reached alarming proportions.

Born in Gangodawila on April 24, 1948, Ven. Soma Thera studied at Isipathana Vidyalaya and then entered the Buddhist Order. He was ordained in 1977.
His work in the Buddha Sasana commenced at the Vajirarama Dharmayathanaya. Having been the chief priest at a Buddhist temple in Australia for many years Ven. Soma Thera came back to his motherland a few years ago.

The thera was a pupil of the Most Ven. Madihe Pannaseeha Mahanayake Thera and Ven. Ampitiye Rahula Thera. Ven. Soma Thera who believed in the principles of these two scholars formed the "Jana Vijaya Padanama". His body will be kept at Maharagama Dharmayathanaya till the 20th morning. Thereafter it will be brought to Bambalapitiya Vajiraramaya. Cremation will take place at Henry Pedris Stadium, Havelock Town at 2:30 pm on Sunday.

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