An insight into Soratha Thera's Philosophy

No one would think that Chandradasa Jayawardena, who was born on May 23, 1897, was a pioneer of higher education in Sri Lanka. It was Ven. Welivitiya Sri Soratha Thera who founded the Vidyodaya University.

- Dr. Rajitha Gunaratne

In compiling this article the present Vice-Chancellor proposed to me to do so on the occasion of the 57th Commemoration of Ven. Welivitiya Sri Soratha Thera. It is with great pleasure and respect that I dedicate myself to write this article.

The Vice-Chancellor, Senior Professor Sudantha Liyanage will lay the foundation stone for a statue of Ven. Welivitiya Sri Soratha Thera at the Sri Jayawardenapura University Faculty of Technology. It was in recognition of the philosophical, academic and technical skills of the Thera.

Ven. Sumangala studied at the Parama Dhamma Chaitya Pirivena in Ratmalana under Ven. Valane Sri Siddhartha Thera.

Sumangala Thera’s philosophy made it clear that various subjects should be studied. One example of this is teaching English and Tamil as subjects in the Vidyodaya Pirivena.

What is clear is how relevant that vision of Sumangala Thera is relevant today.

Sri Soratha Thera, when a layman, was ordained on October 15, 1912 under the supervision of Ven. Kahawe Premaratne Thera. Sri Soratha Thera commenced his education at Maligakanda Vidyodaya Pirivena. Ten years later the priest became the lecturer at the Vidyodaya Pirivena.

Sri Soratha Thera, who excelled in his Pandita degree, entered University of Calcutta in 1932 for further studies. He was able to equip with expertise in History, Archeology, Pali, Sanskrit, English and Classical Oriental languages during the study at the University of Calcutta. In 1957, he was awarded the title of

Vidyodaya Parivenadhipati. In 1959, he started Vidyodaya University and became its first vice-chancellor.

The vision of Sri Sumangala Thero was strengthened by Sri Soratha Thera.