Venerable Kurawalana Siri Seevali Thera, Viharaadhikari of the Aththanagalla Raja Maha Vihara, passed away at the age of 60, in the early hours of 26 May 2022.
Born on 17 February, 1962 at Kurawalana under the lay name Walpola Kankanamlage Kithsiri Priyantha Kumara, he entered the Buddhist order on 4 February 1972 as Kurawalana Siri Seevali. He was conscripted into higher ordination on 12 June 1982 at the Malwathu Maha Vihara, Kandy in the Siyamopali monastic order in a ceremony presided by Ven. Wimalakeerthi Sri Sumana Panditha Sirimalwatthe Anandabhidhana Thera. In 1986, he earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Sinhala from the University of Kelaniya and later, a Masters of Philosophy from the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies from the same university.
As the Viharadhikari of the Attanagalle Raja Maha Vihara, he supported the current Chief Incumbent Pannila Ananda Nayaka Thera by overseeing matters of organisation and administration – stimulating communities both in and outside of the temple. It is a known fact that the Thera travelled the island, helping those in need that he encountered along the way. He would distribute dry rations to families in need, as well as toys and stationery to children.
His compassionate nature knew no bounds, as the Thera treated all beings alike in spite of class, caste, or creed. His patronage extended from Gampaha to the South of Sri Lanka and all the way to Jaffna in the North, where very many families he had supported looked towards him for advice and guidance in both spiritual and secular matters. In his capacity as a resident monk at the Houston Buddhist Vihara in Texas, he served for about seven years to provide platforms for dhamma discussions and various poojas while maintaining close connections with many families in Houston.
In Attanagalla, the Thera was well-known and widely admired for the immeasurable services he rendered for the propagation of Buddhism and his steadfast contribution to the education of a countless number of students, who are bereaved by his sudden demise. As the supervisor of the Sri Sangabo Dhamma School, an institution which went beyond the dissemination of doctrinal knowledge, he sought to help the students of the area with technological and practical life skills that enabled them to progress in all aspects of their lives.
Even to date, generations of students who attended the Dhamma school are united by the fact that they were taught by the venerable whom they dearly call “Seevali Sadhu”. His generosity spanned various contributions towards the children’s education and was marked by his benevolent spirit that fostered curiosity and encouraged students to question what they were taught.
The lives he has impacted during the 60 years of his altruistic life are immeasurable and those who prospered under his guidance will always be directed by the legacy of the community he fostered and the lessons of compassion that he leaves behind. His absence will be profoundly felt by the spiritual and secular communities alike.
The Thera’s final rites took place on 29 May at the Attanagalle Rajamaha Vihara premises. A Pansakula ceremony (Buddhist funeral) was also held at the Houston Buddhist Vihara.
A tribute to Ven. Kurawalana Siri Seevali Thera
02 Jun 2022
A tribute to Ven. Kurawalana Siri Seevali Thera
02 Jun 2022