Ven. Puhulwelle Vipassi Thera passes away

Buddhist prelate of Brazil, Ven. Dr. Puhulwelle Vipassi Nayake Thera passed away at the City Hospital in Birmingham after a brief illness.

Born at Puhulwella in Matara on May 24 1937, he was ordained as a novice monk at the age of 15 at the Sri Sunandaramaya in Galboda under the patronage of Chief Sanghanayaka the Most Ven. Parawahera Devananda Nayake Thera. Educated at Purvãrãma Instiute of Kirinda he received his secondary education from Sri Sudarshi University College, Matara and oriental studies from Vidyodaya Pirivena in Colombo.

He was a lecturer at Gangaramaya, Sri Gnaneswara University College in Colombo until he took up a post as lecturer of Páli and English in the Chittabhavan University College in Thailand. He headed of the Department of Páli and English of this university.
He was a visiting lecturer in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom before he became the Abbot of the Monastery of the Buddhist Society of Rio De Janeiro in Brazil.

While he was in the UK he secured his Ph.D for Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Hull.

The Venerable Thera’s body will lie at Stephen M. Godbeer Ltd. in Birmingham, till Wednesday November 1.

Funeral will take place at 4.15 pm in Perry Barr Crematorium at 389, Walsall Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham, B42 2LR. Tel: 0102 344 7880.