Patron
The Most Venerable Aggamahapandita
Tirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thero
Siri Vajiraramaya, Bambalapitiya.
We are honored to have The Most Venerable Aggamahapandita Tirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thero as the esteemed Patron of Damrivi Foundation. His venerable presence and guidance illuminate the path of our foundation, embodying the spirit of wisdom, compassion, and dedication to the principles of Buddhism.
A Beacon of Wisdom:
The Most Venerable Aggamahapandita Tirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thero is a distinguished figure in the Buddhist monastic community, known for his profound understanding of Buddhist philosophy and his unwavering commitment to the dissemination of Dhamma—the teachings of the Buddha.
Scholarly Eminence:
As an Aggamahapandita, he holds the highest scholarly title, signifying not only a deep mastery of Buddhist scriptures but also a commitment to the scholarly traditions that enrich the spiritual landscape. His eminence in the field of Buddhist studies is a source of inspiration for all those who seek the path of wisdom.
Guiding Light of Damrivi Foundation:
In his role as the Patron of Damrivi Foundation, The Most Venerable Aggamahapandita Tirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thero provides invaluable guidance and support to our endeavors. His vision aligns seamlessly with the foundation’s mission to promote inner development, social welfare, and the harmonious coexistence of humankind with the environment.
Advisory Panel
VenerableTapovanaye Sutadhara Thero
P.M.A. Sirimane
Yuki Sirimane PhD.
Preminda Niranjan Fernando PhD.
VenerableTapovanaye Sutadhara Thero
VenerableTapovanaye Sutadhara Thero
MA, Director, Ventura Buddhist Studies Centre, California, USA
A Guiding Light on our Advisory Panel
We are privileged to have Venerable Tapovanaye Sutadhara Thero, MA, as an esteemed member of the advisory panel at Damrivi Foundation. His profound wisdom, extensive knowledge, and commitment to the principles of Buddhism enrich our endeavors and guide us on the path of compassionate service.
P.M.A. Sirimane
P.M.A. Sirimane
FCA, MBA
Mr. Maithri Sirimane is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Swinburne, Victoria, Australia. He has over 45 years experience in Management and Finance in the Commercial Sector and currently functions as a Group Director of a large conglomerate in Sri Lanka.
He has served as a Member of several Committees of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka . He is one of the founders of Damrivi Foundation and served as a founder trustee of Damrivi for 10 years from its inception.
Yuki Sirimane PhD.
YUKI Sirimane
Attorney-at-law, MA, PhD.
Mrs.Yuki Sirimane is an Attorney-at-Law and Solicitor of England and Wales. She has been a corporate lawyer for over 20 years. She also holds a Doctorate in Buddhist Studies from the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya. She is one of the founders of Damrivi Foundation and steered Damrivi Foundation from its inception as a founder trustee and Director Operations.
Preminda Niranjan Fernando PhD.
Preminda Niranjan Fernando
BSC (Eng), MPhil (Eng) D.I.C. PhD. (London), Former Manager, Energy Division East Asian Development Bank.
We are honored to have Dr. Preminda Niranjan Fernando, a distinguished individual with a rich academic and professional background, as a valued member of Damrivi Foundation’s advisory panel. His extensive expertise and commitment to excellence significantly contribute to the foundation’s mission of creating positive change in various spheres.
He has served as a Member of several Committees of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka . He is one of the founders of Damrivi Foundation and served as a founder trustee of Damrivi for 10 years from its inception.
Board of Executive Trustees
Professor Asanga Tilakaratne
Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera
Soma De Silva, PhD.
Suranjani Wickremeratne
Lumbini Priyantha, PhD.
Mallika Karunaratne, PhD.
Professor Asanga Tilakaratne
Professor Asanga Tilakaratne
Maha-saddhammajotika-dhaja (Myanmar), MA, PhD. University of Hawai’i
Emeritus Professor of Pali and Buddhist Studies and founder Head of the Department of Buddhist Studies at University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. In 2003, with Maithri Sirimane and Yuki Sirimane, he founded Damrivi Foundation aiming at spiritual, social and economic development.
Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera
Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera,
RWP,USP Mphil, Ph D Rtd. Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy, Ex-Director General of Civil Defence Force.
Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, a distinguished figure with a background in naval leadership, serves as a valued member of the Board of Executive Trustees at Damrivi Foundation. His commitment to public service, leadership experience, and strategic vision contribute significantly to the foundation’s mission of fostering positive change in various spheres.
Key Highlights:
- Naval Leadership: Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera brings a wealth of leadership experience from his esteemed career in the naval forces.
- Commitment to Service: Throughout his career and beyond, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and community well-being.
- Strategic Vision: As a member of the Board of Executive Trustees, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera provides strategic insights and guidance, contributing to the foundation’s impactful initiatives.
Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera’s dedication to the principles of Damrivi Foundation aligns seamlessly with the organization’s mission to promote inner development, social welfare, and environmental harmony.
Soma De Silva, PhD.
Dr. Soma De Silva, PhD.
Evaluator, Development Leader, and Advocate for Wellbeing
Soma De Silva is a former UNICEF South Asia Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser. She is a founder member and a two times president of the Sri Lanka Evaluation Association. She has served as thePresident of the International Organisation for Collaboration in Evaluation (IOCE) and as the founderco-chair of EvalPartners, which is a global movement for promoting development evaluation. Her work in promoting institutionalisation of evaluation training in South Asia was instrumental in establishing a postgraduate diploma in Evaluation at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, the first university program in evaluation in Sri Lanka. Soma worked with a Select Committee of the Parliament to draft the National Evaluation Bill.Besides many official publications, she has authored the book “Theory of Change for Development Success”to help using evaluation in development interventions. Besides her professional focus on development cooperation, Soma has a keen interest in promoting psychological wellbeing of people. She teaches psychology focussing on the incorporation of Buddhist analysis of the mind into psychotherapies. Soma holds a first degree in physical science,postgraduate diplomas in population studies,demography andsampling, statistics and a Masters degree in sociology (Georgetown University). More recently she has earned Masters degrees in applied psychology (Coventry University) and Psychology (Arden University), as well as a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of Kelaniya.
Suranjani Wickremeratne
Suranjani Wickremeratne
Finance Professional, MBA, and Philanthropist
Suranjani Wickremeratne
An Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and holds an MBA from the University of Warwick in UK. She is currently engaged in the working for several Charitable Institutions, in a voluntary capacity. She is the current President of the Dental Care International (Sri Lanka Branch), a foreign NGO operating in Bokkawala, Kandy. She has held the position of Head of Audit at an International Bank for nearly 15 years. Besides, she has worked at a Company by Guarantee overlooking social welfare work in the estate sector, as an Accountant and Administration Manager for a couple of years.
Lumbini Priyantha, PhD.
Mr. Lumbini Priyantha, PhD.
PhD In Buddhist Studies University of Kelaniya.
Lumbini Priyantha PhD. Financial Administrator by profession, holds MA and
PhD In Buddhist Studies from University of Kelaniya.
Mallika Karunaratne, PhD.
Mallika Karunaratne, PhD.
Urban Planner, Government Leader, and Well-being Advocate
Mallika Karunaratne, a graduate from University of Peradeniya, obtained her Masters Degree in Town & Country Planning from Sydney University, Australia. She worked with the Government of Sri Lanka as a member of the Sri Lanka Planning Service and retired as a Ministry Secretary in 2010. She is a recipient of Hubert Humphrey Fellowship and had exposure in Human Resource Management at Cornell University, USA. She obtained her PhD. in Buddhist Studies from Kelaniya University. She had training in Psychological Counseling and is engaged in counseling towards well-being of the community applying Buddhist insights.
Our Resource Persons
Ven. Udu-eeriyagama Dhammajiva Thera
Ven Alawwe Anomadassi Thera
Ven Meegoda Sukhitha Thera
Kammatthanacariya Mr. Gamini Priyantha
Ven. Udu-eeriyagama Dhammajiva Thera
Ven. Udu-eeriyagama Dhammajiva Thera
Most Ven. U. Dhammajiva Maha Thero is the Abbot and the Chief Meditation master of Meetirigala Nissaranavanaya Forest Monastery, Sri Lanka. Ven MahaThero learned meditation under the guidance of two great masters; namely the late Most Venerable Matara Sri Ňānārāma Maha Thero of Sri Lanka and late Sayadaw U. Panditabhivamsa of Burma. As a meditation teacher he emphasize the importance of mindfulness or Sathi. The Maha Thero allows the practitioner to develop either through Vipassana or Samatha method. The Maha Thero has specialized in Vipassana meditation and he is fluent in English, Burmese, Pali and Sinhala.
Ven Alawwe Anomadassi Thera
Ven Alawwe Anomadassi Thera
Ranaketuwagala Monastery, Matale, Sri Lanka.
Ven Meegoda Sukhitha Thera
Ven Meegoda Sukitha Thero
Ven. Meegoda Sukhitha Thera, Siri Vajiraramaya, Bambalapitiya. Pandit
(Oriental Studies Society), BA (Hons.) and M.A. from University of Kelaniya.
Kammatthanacariya Mr. Gamini Priyantha
Kammatthanacariya Mr. Gamini Priyantha
Experienced meditator and instructor inspired by Matara Sri Nanarama and Kadawadduwa Sumangala tradition. He has been the resource person for the weekly meditation on Sunday morning and meditation in special occasions at Damrivi.
