Sri Sunandarama Maha Viharaya

Origin

In 1867 june 14, about ½ an acre of land was donated to honourable Bandaragama Dammananda Thero and all other Bikkus for their use by the people of Meewanapalana and Gurugoda (Buddhist) in a deed. (saga satukota puja) In 1883 Built a monastry named “Mada Mukalana” temple and afterwards it is known as Sri Sunandaramaya.

In 1887 A very beautiful vihara mandiraya was built by Meewanapalane Sumanatissa thero. After that the chief incumbent of Raigam, Salpiti, Hewagam Korale Reverent Mahopaddaya Saddarmma Kirthie Sri Sumanathiissa Wachiswara, did a great religious service with his greatest courage. The great service done by him The new two story sangawasa Very beautiful dana hall Very big and attractive Darma hall A very new chetiya, wells, ponds, Gantara kuluna, and other various fantastic scenes all around viharaya and it seems to be a beauty spot.

As the chief incumbent had passed away in 8th February 1980 rev: Uduwe Mangala came to his place. But unluckly he also died in 26th may 1980 after three months.

The new chief incumbent

Revent Meewanapalane Sumeda was young at that time but became chief incumbent. The religious works that had been done by the late Rev: Sri Wachiswara were soon completed by Reverent Meewanapalane Sumeda. The development had extended further.

• The new Vihara Mandiraya
• Seemamalakaya
• Pasmaha dewala
• Walakulu bamma
• Beautiful Attavisi Buddha Mandiraya
• Wahalkada

Now the temple is a well completed attractive place in area.

Was born in 1953, in 1965 he was ordained, in 1974 entered upasampada, in 1980 he was the chief incumbent. In 8th August 2003 honoured as “Mangala Darma Keerthie Sri Wachiswara” honoured as “ chief incumbent in the Western Provice”.

Apar from that

• Ex chief person in Horana Sasanarakshaka Bala mandalaya
• Secretary of Horana Sasanarakshaka Bala mandalaya
• Member of sama kamitu in Horana Police Bala Mandalaya
• Member of Hospital committee (Ingiriya, Horana)
• Member of religious instructor in media
• The adviser of all voluntary organizing activities in the area (Pavidi Anusakathwaya)
• J.P in all island and honoured by all in national level.

Attached Temples and Chief Incumbents

• Weragala old stone carved Viharaya- Rev: Gurugoda Sumana Thero
• Mahingala Menerigama Sri Sangikaramaya – Rev: Udugalakande Hemaloka Thero
• Poruwadanda Sri Shailatalaramaya- Rev: Karadana Assaji Thero
• Munagama Sri Devindaramaya- Rev: Munagama Maietree Murthi Thero
• Kahawala Sri Wijaya Wisuddaramaya- Rev: Mathagama Seelaratana Thero
• Rakwana Rajawaththa Sri Bodhi Mularamaya
• Kubuka old Sri Maha Viharaya- Rev: Barandigampola Hemawasa Thero
• Illimba Sri Sangikaramaya- Rev: Diyakaduwe Gnanaloka Thero
• Gurugoda Pirth Paradise Malberigama Wachiswara Darmamayathanaya.

Villages (Goduru Gam) :

consists of four Gramasewa wasam.

• Meewanapalana west 617B
• Meewanapalana east 617
• Gurugoda 617A
• Kirigala 617C

There are fourteen sub areas (peru) and 1200 dayaka families (devotees)

Sub Institutes

• Dayaka committee in the temple.
• 14 sub committees that attached to peru Dayaka division
• The committee of upasaka upasika
• The committee of women (kulagana)
• Young Buddhist association
• Sri Wachiswara public library
• Daham school development association

Relationship with People

• Vocational training centre.
• Co-operative store.
• Sub post office

Had started all above institutes by the present chief incumbent and there are many employers, who earn their living.

• Meewanapalana Maha Vidyalaya
• Gurugoda junior school

Most of the children these areas go to the above schools. When there is any project or work regarding educational,religious,national value always the temple gives their best co-operation and service. If there is any religious or national work at the temple, the pupils give their co-operation.

• Sri wachiswara Damma school
• Sri Wachiswara nursery

The chief organizer and the founder of the above two schools is the chief incumbent of the temple. He did a great service with devotion to the children to brighten their future. That shows the relationship between him and the public.

In the villages of Meewanapalana and Gurugoda there are many societies like :- Youth associations, helping funeral societies, elderly associations, women societies, suba sadana society, voluntary society. Chief incumbent is the adviser in all above societies. It shows that people like him much and the relationship between the temple and the people in the area. He understands the peoples’ need and pay his attention with compassion. The ohter bikkus also give their co-operation.

He accompanies people not only in that area but also at national wide. The people in the area are very proud of their temple Meewanapalana gurugoda “Sri Sunandaramaya” as it is full of Buddhist educationist and a very great “Punya Buhumi”.