Rajarata University warmly welcomes its Chancellor Ven. Ethalawetunawewa Gnanatilake Thero

By Sarath Manula Wickrama

The first Chancellor appointed from Rajarata area was warmly welcomed on July 24.

The highest position one can attain in university field is the post of chancellor. There are four Vice Chancellors since the inception of the universities in this country” from Anuradhapura district to date. But no chancellor has emerged from Anuradhapura. Although it was simply an honorary post this is the first Chancellor’s post in Rajarata. That is the chief incumbent of the Mirisawetiya Temple Ven. Ethalawetunawewa Gnanatilake Thero.

Prince Gnanathikala, the eldest son of the lucky parents K. B. Sita and N. Gunawardena was born on April 18, 1969 at Pirappanmaduwa village in Vavuniya.

Gnanatilake received his primary education from Gamini Maha Vidyalaya, Vavuniya, Pihimbiyagollewa Maha Vidyalaya, and Maha-Kumbukwewa Vidyalaya” Anuradhapura was ordained on May 13, 1981 in the terrace of historical Ruwanmeli Seya.

He was named as Ethalawetunuwewa Gnanatilake. Eathalweunuwewa is the village where he grew up as a child. Gnanatilake Samanera Thero received his primary education at the Anuradhapura Maha Vihara Pirivena and the Shastrodaya Maha Pirivina” Sandalankawa. He studied higher education at the Paali and Buddhist University of Sri Lanka. He studied other postgraduate degrees at the University of Kelaniya.

Gnanatilake Thero who assumed the post of Chief Incumbent of the Mirisawetiya Rajamaha Viharaya in Anuradhapura in 1993. He was able to fulfill many responsibilities including the conservation work of the Mirisawetiya Maha Seya and the monument complex which were being renovated at that time. The reconstruction work which had been started by Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa Thero, the present Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana in the 90’s, as the Chief Incumbent of the Mirisawetiya Vihara carried out successfully by Gnanatilake Thero. Gnanatilake Thero made an immense sacrifice to bequeath to the world the Mirisawetiya pagoda which now shines in white.

He was also able to make a huge physical development and provide facilities as well as perform a religious service for the current needs of the place. Especially many social service activities are being carried out under the leadership of Ven. Gnanatilake Thera, at the Mirisawetiya Vihara.

Supporting thousands of farming families every year, providing scholarships to thousands of school children, providing ample material aid to thousands of pregnant mothers for a number of years, offering educational equipment and offerings to thousands of novice monks, as well as all kinds of furniture and utensils needed for difficult temples are the foremost social service programs of Ven. Gnanatilake Thera.

The national, religious and social services rendered by Ven. Gnanatilake Thera are not insignificant. Providing relief to the people in a timely manner in times of crisis as well as disasters faced by the people, conducting welfare medical camps throughout the district in a manner that provides relief to all, maintaining several high quality orphanages with high facilities and organizing religious programs for the national interest have being done By Ven. Gnanatilake Thero.

He was able to create a great Buddhist revival in the era by organizing opportunities for a large number of devotees from all over the country and the world to perform meritorious deeds. Ven. Gnanatilake Thera also holds the post of Secretary of the Atamasthana Sangha Sabha and is engaged in religious propaganda both locally and abroad.

He has authored a number of books on the Mirisawetiya Temple and the Atamasthana, as well as guiding the academic work of other writers in addition to his academic creations.

President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has appointed Ven. Gnanatilake Thero as the chancellor of the university appreciating his service for three decades of the area and the sacrifices made for the betterment of the Sasana and the education of students.

A special ceremony was organized at the University to welcome him under the patronage of the present Vice Chancellor Dr. Ananda Karunaratne. The meeting was conducted by Dr. Olagamwatte Chandrasiri Thero of the Faculty of Sociology and Humanities, Rajarata University.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Ananda Karunaratne Granted the ‘Sannas Pathra’ after the introduction by Senior Professor Ariya Lagamuwa. The Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr.Gamini Senarath also officially presented the ‘Vichini Patra’ to him. The IGP and the Commanders of the three Armed Forces then paid homage to him. After that Prof. Sampath Amaratunga, Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Mr. Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Technology and Innovation and the Vice Chancellor made welcome speeches.

The Chancellor who addressed the gathering stated “Our aim is to make Rajarata University an institution that produces 21st century scholars. According to a survey conducted by the World Economic Forum, the 21st century has four types of intellectual skills. The first is technical skill. The second is intellectual skill. Third is management skills. Fourth; Business Skills.

In this way, Harvard University also revealed something. That’s more than fifty percent of the jobs that humans do in the next 10 years will be snatched away by artificial intelligence, that is, robots. Then all that is left for man to do is analytical thinking, creative abilities and activities that are guided by conscience. So what we need to do is develop these skills in students that are needed for the future. For that, we have to work with the scientific knowledge of the West, using the universal realities and practical strategies of Buddhism. So our university must take the lead in introducing the necessary exploration and research to the world in the near future. Its forerunners are already visible. It is a matter of pleasure that this university is of a high standard though it is still young today. However We must think of producing a humane doctor. And to produce an engineer with a man. ‘‘

Sanga Nayaka Theras from various parts of the country including Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa, Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Ruwanmali Chaityaramadhikari” Ven.Bellanwila Dhammaratana, Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharadhipathi” Prof. Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkitha, Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharadhipathi” Ven. Bengamuwe Dhammadinna, chef incumbent of Sri Padasthana and Ven. Murutthettuwe Ananda ” Chancellor of the University of Uva; and Prof. Ven.Medagoda Abhayatissa also represented the occasion.

A large group of lay and clergy Joined the occasion including Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Retired Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defense, Acting Chief of Defense Staff Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva and a number of Chiefs of Defense Forces.