Venerable Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Thero – The Visionary Founder of Nalanda Girls’ Central College
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Donation of chairs to OPD, Minuwangoda Hospital
The dedication of monks towards the spiritual and educational upliftment of the community was a prominent feature of the society in our nation. The most Venerable Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Mahanayake Thero was a pioneer Buddhist monk, a visionary educator, and a social worker respectfully treated among the community. His birthday is on 23rd September 1900. Before the ordination, Thero was known as Kalinga Piyasena de Silva. His parents were Carolis de Silva and M. Mariyanona. Little Kalinga was the second child in the family. Kalinga, who loved the monastic life from his childhood, received ordination as a monk under the name Heenatiyana Dhammaloka from Venerable Meegamuwe Sri Dhammaskanda nayaka Thero at the Heenatiyana Pothgul Viharaya in 1911, when he was 11 years old. The venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero mentioned in the Golden Jubilee Magazine of the Nalanda College, Colombo in 1975 that, the Venerable Ananda Maitreya Thero suggested the name of Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Thero to fill the vacancy of Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero, when the Thero moved to Ananda College from the position of Dharmacharya of Nalanda College in 1926 at the request of P. de. S. Kularatne. In the same article, Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero further said that Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Thero won the hearts of the children better than the thero and skillfully developed the religious department of the Nalanda College, Colombo.
Ven. Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Thero
The Ven. Heenatiyana Dhammaloka thero continuing the effort, immediately took action and moved Nalanda from Colombo to Minuwangoda, his hometown when the Nalanda College had to leave the capital Colombo due to the Second World War in 1942. Accordingly, the Ven. Thero jointly with Mr. J. N. Jinendradasa, who was the Principal of Nalanda College, Colombo at that time and Mr. D. S. Senanayake, established Nalanda College in the vicinity of the Minuwangoda Rajamaha Viharaya. Following the post conflict, Nalanda College was returned to Colombo, and Minuwangoda Nalanda was established as an independent institution by the Ven. Thero, Mr. J. N. Jinendradasa and Mr. D. S. Senanayake. In the Golden Jubilee Magazine of the Nalanda College, Colombo published in 1975, the Ven. Thero had stated that “Just as Nalanda was born from Ananda; Nalanda was born from Nalanda.”
The Nalanda Vidyalaya, Minuwangoda which was built through the great efforts of the Ven. Thero, who was a very dedicated teacher and with a heart full of national sentiments, has today developed into a first-class school in the area under the name of Nalanda Girls’ Central College. As past pupils of Nalanda Girls’ Central College, Minuwangoda, we remember our great founder, Ven. Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Thero with respect and gratitude. The vision, dedication and selfless service of Thero laid the foundation for an institution that has empowered countless students over the decades. Accordingly, you are our foremost among the founders who created Nalanda Girls’ Central College. We continue to protect the noble values that you appreciated and wished for and strive to be valuable daughters of this proud heritage. On the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary commemoration of Ven. Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Thero, the Past Pupils’ Association (PPA) of Nalanda Girls’ Central College, Minuwangoda, carried out several meritorious activities with the Heenatiyana Pothgul Viharaya. These included:
• Donating chairs for the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Minuwangoda Hospital,
• Organising an essay competition at the school in memory of the great founder,
• Offering pirikara to 25 monks at the Heenatiyana Pothgul Viharaya, and
• Participating in the Bodhi Pooja Pinkama held at the temple.
Through these meritorious acts, the PPA paid tribute to our revered founder and strengthened the bond between the school, the temple, and the wider community. As the past pupils of the college, we all wish Thero the supreme bliss of nibbana, and we are forever indebted to you.
Past Pupils’ Association (PPA)
Nalanda Girls’ Central College,
Minuwangoda
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