Chief Incumbent, Venerable Walpola Anuruddha Thero
Venerable Walpola Anuruddha Thero was born in the city of Galle in southern Sri Lanka and received his ordination at Kalugalamawatha Sri Saddhamodayarama Vihara in Galle. He subsequently received his higher ordination from the Malwathu Maha Vihara in Kandy.
Having completed his Piriven education in Sri Lanka, he arrived at the Sri Sambudhaloka Vihara in 2005. Serving as the Secretary of the temple from that time, Ven Thero has since been a livewire behind the religious activities of the Buddhist community in the area. Ven Anuruddha Thero takes a leading role in the Sunday Dhamma School for the young children.
Resident Monks
Ven. Alupotha Dhammarathana
The Asgiriya Central Temple belongs in the Shymopalika sect, Asgiriya Maha Vihara Chapter and representing the Suduhampola Raja Maha Vihara Temple Sangha lineage which also had one of the pioneers of the national freedom struggle in 1818, Venerable Variyapola Sri Sumangala Thera (former royal Asgiri deputy chief monk). Among the 265 names listed in the Monastic records (Vihara Asana) within the Kandyan era, the 16th name in the Rajamaha Vihara directory is Bampane Rajamaha Vihara Temple. Among the ancient directory that has the original Rajamaha Vihara names, the history Alupotha Bampane Raja Maha Vihara Temple and resident monk of PolAmbegoda Sri Sudharshanarama Maha Pirivena, Specialist in Paritta Chanting, Venerable Alupotha Dhammarathana can be identified as a Pandit Monk who has received special training in Paritta chanting.
He performs in the capacity of a teacher who provides special training on the areas of conducting sermon and religious work in the areas of paritta chanting novice monks in monastic colleges. The 5th executive president of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse recognized him by granting him an all-island advisory position in the Education and Higher Education Ministries, Monastic College Education branch. During the years 2005 to 2010, Ven. Dhammarathana was awarded first place several times in Inter-monastic colleges’ Languages and Literature Competitive Examinations, in the Sabaragamuwa Province, from District of Kegalle and also participated in Colombo District Monastic Literature examination and won all-island first place. Over the past years, Venerable Alupotha Dhammarathana has been visiting various provinces and districts in the island to conduct religious seminars that were focused on “Conducting Sermons and Performing Religious Work” to assist novice monks with enhancing their religious life and role in the future. Ven. Alupotha Dhammarathana has shown skills in partitta Chanting based on provincial Chanting tradition. Also, as a representation of the Abhayagiriya Maha Vihara Bhikku lineage that arose during the Anuradhapura kingdom, honoring the traditional chanting procedure, and in accordance with the ancient Buddhist traditional procedures that belong to the Matale Aluvihara Traditions, he has been adept at writing on, binding and compiling ancient manuscripts. 
In 2007 and 2008, he completed degree programs in Pali Language and Buddhism. He has been engaged in writing books on traditional paritta chanting practices and contributing valuable Buddhist scholarly articles to publish on newspapers such as Budusarana, Dinamina, Divaina and Lankadeepa. His sole wish is to teach and propagate the pristine Theravada Buddhist doctrine to the world. Ven. Dhammarathana also visits other countries upon invitation to conduct pirith chanting. At this time, he is engaged in a global Buddhist service, and he is a monk who has a deep knowledge of the all-night pirith chanting, pirith chanting that spans 33, 35, and 37 hours as well as week-long pirith chanting. In weeklong pirith chanting, he is skilled at writing and compiling the palm leaf manuscript.
Base on the ancient Kotte pirith tradition and known as the king of pirith chanting is Ruhuna Giruvapaththuva Chief Monk, and Head Monk of Weligama Agrabodhi Vihara Temple and resident monk of Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara Temple, Pariththa Specialist Most Venerable Wattala Sri Silarathana Nayaka Thera. The Head Monk of Homagama Pitipana Sri Dakshinarama Vihara Temple, Sashrapathi and Pandit Degree holder and paritta Specialist Venerable Kuralevela Sri Sangharakkhitha Nayaka Thera was the skilled teacher at Mampe Monastic College for Pali Language. Ven. Alupotha Dhammarathana was fortunate to receive training from the above talented monks who specialized in paritta chanting. Also, one of the monks famous for his proficiency in ancient chanting. Also, one of the monks famous for his proficiency in ancient chanting traditions and Buddhist manners is Head Monk of Colpetty Valukarama Vihara and Pancha Maha Vihara Temples, Kotte Sri Kalyana Samagri Dhamma Maha Sangha Council, Senior Dhamma Kirthi Sri Paritta Daja, and Paritta Specialist, Chief Monk for Colombo District, Most Venerable Maharagama Nanda Nayaka Thera.
Venerable Alupotha Dhammarathana was able to learn from these monks and be an expert in the ancient Kotte paritta chanting tradition and with their advice, he was able to achieve the paritta Specialist title and skills in conducting Dhamma sermons, thereby also attractively performing activities such as observing preceptors for the lay audience, reciting stanzas to invite for pirith chanting holy and inauguration of pirith.
Similarly, the four pillars contained in the Maha Paritta Book, and in accordance with the laws and regulations in each pillar with regards to the rhythm, from conducting twin sermons and Dhammachakka Pavaththana Sutta to Sachcha Vibhanga Sutta recitation in an attractive manner; paying homage within the ending discourse and chanting priith based on such manner.
Upon special invitations for week long pirith chanting, Paritta Specialist Venerable Alupotha Dhammarathana has been involved in reading out ancient temple traditional declaration and the post-sermon is an attractive manner based on the Kotte paritta traditions part of the pirith ceremonies associated with the continuous and annual perahera festival at Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruvanvali Maha Stupa, Thuparama, Mahiyangana Temple, Velgama Rajamaha Vihara Temple, Kataragama Kiri Vehera Temple, Somawathi Vihara Temple, Kelani Vihara Temple, Bellanvila Vihara Temple and many other historic temples. He has also participated in some of the Poya day all night pirith chanting ceremonies recorded on radio and conducted at some of the prominent temples in Sri Lanka. Ven. Dhammarathana ‘s name and voice are often heard on pirith chanting conducted on live radio and television channels. Those recitations are very appealing to listen to as well. We have also listened often to the alluring voice of Venerable Alupotha Dhammarathana Thera during the early morning pirith chanting that follows the Samudragosha Chanting style told in the ancient sermon procedures. Ven. Alupotha Dhammarathana is a skilled and capable young Bhikku. We wish that he has the blessings of the noble triple gem and hope that he will have the strength and courage to continue his service to Buddhism as an eloquent preacher through more and more pirith chanting.
Ven. Dr. Phamune “Dharmakirthi Sri Saranankara” Sumngala Nayake Thera, Chief Incumbent of Polonnaruwe Somawathie Rjaa Maha Viharaya, Assistant & Deputy Secretory of Malwatta Sector of Shyamopali Maha Nikaya, Former Lecturer of the University of Peradeniya, Malwathu Maha Vihara Temple, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Ven. Welipathayeya Deepananda
Reverend Welipathayeya Deepananda was trained as a Buddhist monk in his native land of Sri Lanka. He was ordained as a novice monk at the age of 11. He then continued his education and received his higher ordination in 2012. In addition to monastic training, he pursued his studies at the University Of Buddhist and Pali in Sri Lanka, graduating with a Bachelor Of Art degree in 2013. From there he traveled to Singapore where he studied at the Buddhist College of Singapore. His proficiency with the English language led him to relocate to the United States in 2022 where he has served as a resident monk at the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center. While there he taught meditation and was involved in Buddhist education for Children. He is currently a resident monk at the Nevada Buddhist Vihara.
Overseeing Administration
Venerable Wathogala Saranasiri Thero
Venerable Wathogala Saranasiri Thero is the founder and chief abbot of the Sri Sambudhaloka Vihara. Hailing from the southern coast of Sri Lanka, he was ordained as a monk in 1982 at the Sri Sadharmodaramaya Vihara in Walahudulla, Galle. The Venerable Thero received his BA (Honours) from the Ruhuna University, Sri Lanka in 1995 and MA (Pali Language Studies) from the Pali University, Sri Lanka in 1997.
Arriving in United States in the year 1998, the Venerable Thero, based at the Dharmavijaya Vihara in Los Angeles, spent the next five years providing spiritual guidance to the Sri Lankan community in the Los Angeles area. In year 2003 he founded the Sri Sambudhaloka Vihara and has since been of immense service to the Buddhist community in the area.
VEN. DR. AGGAMAHAPANDITA WALPOLA PIYANANDA, NAYAKA MAHA THERO
