Venerable Bellanwila Dhammaratana Maha Thero

Venerable Bellanwila Dhammaratana Maha Thero is the chief incumbent of Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara, near Colombo. He was a student of Vidyalankara Pirivena and a graduate of Vidyalankara University. After graduation, he served as the Deputy Principal and Principal at two prestigious seats of learning Sunethradevi Pirivena and Paramadhamma Chetiya Pirivena respectively.

Venerable Dhammaratana left Sri Lanka for Dhammaduta activities to Singapore in 1973 on the invitation of Venerable M. Mahavihara. There he founded the Buddhist Research Society and established the first ever Buddhist Library in Singapore. Conducting regular Dhamma classes, lectures and seminars are the main activities of the Singapore Buddhist Library.

In 2003, he earned a Master of Philosophy from Kelaniya University and in December 2004, was appointed as the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Singapore by Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dhamma Maha Sangha Sabha.