| Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero | |
 | |
| Birth: | 24 December 1914 Ampitiya, Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Death: | 17 February 2020 Sri Lanka |
| Age: | 105 years, 53 days |
| Country: |  LKA
|
| Centenarian | |
Venerable Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero [Sinhala: අම්පිටියේ ශ්රී රාහුල හිමි] (24 December 1913/1914 – 17 February 2020), also known as Ampitiye Sri Rahula Maha Thero (also spelt as Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thera) was a Sri Lankan Sinhalese Buddhist monk and centenarian. He served as the Chief incumbent of Maharagama Sri Vajiragnana Dharmayathanaya and senior advisor of Supreme Council of the Amarapura Dharmarakshitha Maha Nikaya until his death. He was nicknamed as the Loku Hamuduruwo.
Biography[]
Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero was born as Dharmadasa in Ampitiya, Kandy, Sri Lanka on 24 December 1913/1914. He pursued his primary and secondary education at the St. Mary's College, Kandy. His parents were conventional Buddhists who were extremely devoted to Buddhism and sent him to a Dhamma school in Alukgolla Raja Maha Viharaya.
Rahula Maha Thero entered the Order of the Sangha on 4 May 1936 at the age of 22 and received his higher ordination at Udakukkhepa Seema Malakaya at Kelaniya on 30 July 1936. He attended the hermitage affiliated with the University of Peradeniya under the guidance of Madihe Pannaseeha Thero. He was also taught basics of Buddhism by Palane Vajiragnana Thero and Ahangama Sri Pragnaloka Maha Thero. In 1948, he became the Principal of Vajirarama Dhamma School.
Rahula Maha Thero also taught Dhamma to undergraduates in Sinhala and Tamil at the University of Peradeniya and was also instrumental in establishing a Buddhist temple in the University of Peradeniya. Maharagama Dhammasiri Thero, Gangodawila Soma Thero and Thirikunamale Ananda Thero were some prominent students of him. In 1958, he co-founded the Maharagama Bhikku Training Centre along with his guru Madihe Pannaseeha Thero.
He died on 17 February 2020 in the morning at the age of 105/106 years, 53 days. His funeral was held on 20 February 2020 and it was attended by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero is currently oldest known male centenarian from Sri Lanka.
References[]
- අම්පිටියේ ශ්රී රාහුල ලොකු හාමුදුරුවෝ බුදුසරණ, 25 December 2013
- Most Ven. Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thera passes away Daily News, 18 February 2020