Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thero (29 July 1963 – 3 March 2018) (Sinhala: දරණාගම කුසලධම්ම හිමි) was a Sri Lankan Sinhalese Buddhist monk who founded the first Sri Lankan Buddhist media network and the television channel, The Buddhist.[1] He served as the chief incumbent of the Colombo Sri Sambodhi Viharaya and the Sambodhi Community Development Foundation in London. He died on 3 March 2018 at the age of 54.
Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thero | |
|---|---|
දරණාගම කුසලධම්ම හිමි | |
| Title | Chief incumbent of the Colombo Sri Sambodhi Viharaya |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 29 July 1963 Daranagama, Makola, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 3 March 2018 (aged 54) |
| Alma mater | University of Kelaniya |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| School | Theravada |
| Dharma names | Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thero |
Biography
editDaranagama Kusaladhamma Thero was born on 29 July 1963 in Daranagama. He got the prefix name of "Daranagama" which was his birthplace. He educated at the Royal College, Colombo and received his master's degree at the University of Kelaniya.[2]
Buddhist TV network
editHe went onto launch The Buddhist media network on 15 May 2011 with The Buddhist radio transmission. Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thero was instrumental in launching Sri Lanka's first primary Buddhist channel in January 2012 under the title The Buddhist.[3]
Death
editAfter suffering from illness, Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thero died on 3 March 2018 when he was 54 years old. His funeral took place at the Sports Ministry Ground at the Independence Square.[4][5]
As a result of his death, the annual Big Match between Royal College and St. Thomas College, which is known as Royal-Thomian clash (Battle of the Blues), was postponed to 9 March 2018 as he was a past pupil of the Royal College.[6][7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ ama. "Ven Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thera passes away : Funeral with State patronage". isis.lk. Archived from the original on 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ "Funeral with State patronage for Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thera, pioneer of Buddhist media". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ "The Buddhist TV | සැම හිත සුව පිණිස". www.thebuddhist.tv. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ "Sunday Times - Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thera's funeral on Thursday with state honours". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ "Funeral of Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thera today". Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ "Royal-Thomian big match rescheduled". Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ "Royal Thomian Bigmatch postponed - Sri Lanka News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst | Breaking News and Latest News provider | Political | Sports | International | Business. 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-08.