Mapalagama Wipulasara Maha Thera

Venerable Mapalagama Wipulasara Maha Thera (3 March 1925 – 28 October 2000) was a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka. He was also an artist and sculptor who has gained fame through his sculptures of Buddha statues that are worshiped in many places within Sri Lanka and abroad. He has held Exhibitions in Soviet Russia and China in the years 1961 and 1963 respectively.

Emblem of Sri Lanka

National Emblem

Ven Mapalagama Wipulasara Maha Thera was the designer of the national emblem of Sri Lanka in 1972 under the direction of Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne who was the Chairman of the National Emblem and Flag Design Committee at the time [1][2] and Art Work by S.M Seneviratne.

Paarama Dhamma Chethiya Pirivena

The Maha Thera was the chief monk of the Paarama Dhamma Chethiya Pirivena in Ratmalana, Sri Lanka. This is an international Buddhist institute where novices and monks from Sri Lanka and other countries can learn Buddhism, Sinhala Pali, Sanskrit and English.[3]

Honours

Ven Mapalagama Wipulasara Thera has gained many awards and titles from various countries for his services to the Buddhist community. In 1984 he was awarded the "Kalasoori Merit Award" by the Government of Sri Lanka.[4]

References

  1. (Sinhala) ජනරජ ලාංඡනය නිර්මාණය කළ හැටි. Sunday Lankadeepa, Retrieved on 1 February 2009.
  2. Amara Samara in Sinhala. Rivira, Retrieved on 21 November 2010.
  3. Parama Dhamma Chethiya, Retrieved on 3 January 2009.
  4. Parama Dhamma Chethiya, Retrieved on 3 January 2009.