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By W.T.A. Leslie Fernando The 20th death anniversary of Ven. Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Nayaka Thera falls on October 11, 2001. The well-known prelate, preacher of Bana, writer, poet and social reformer, he was the former incumbent of Abhayasekeraramaya, Negombo. Negombo known as “Little Rome” is a Catholic stronghold in Sri Lanka. Over 90 per cent of the population of Negombo are Catholics. There are over 50 churches and shrines within the Negombo municipality. The majority of Catholic Bishops and the only Cardinal in Sri Lanka have hailed from this Catholic fortress. Although there are comparatively few Buddhists in Negombo - less than ten percent – their religious fervour is remarkable. The renowned Buddhist leader and patriot Brahmachari Walisingha Harischandra was born in Thimbirigaskatuwa, Negombo. A leading school in Negombo, Harischandra Vidyalaya is named after him. Bhodhirajarama Maha Vihare, the well-known Buddhist temple in Negombo is a popular religious centre. The beautiful Budu Ge there contains fine sculptural works and paintings on the life of Buddha and Jathaka stories. Its Pilima Ge contains important Buddhist events in Sri Lanka as well as the life size images of all the Sinhala kings from Vijaya to Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe. Bhodhirajarama Vihare attracts devotees from all over the country. Popularly known as “Angurukaramulla Temple” it is a must for all the Buddhist pilgrims who pass through Negombo. Abhayasekeraramaya Temple situated within a few fathoms from the Bhodhirajarama Vihare is a well-known centre of learning. Buddha Mandiraya in the heart of Negombo is a social and cultural centre of both the Buddhists and non-Buddhists in the area. The late Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera who passed away 20 years ago on October 11, 1981 has contributed in no small measure for the Buddhist fervour in Negombo. Ven. Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera was born at Thimbirigaskatuwa, Negombo on January 25, 1912. He entered the Buddha Sasana as a pupil of the late Ven. Madampe Aggawamsa Tissa Thera, the then Nayake Thera of the Abayasekeraramaya Temple, Negombo. As a samanera, Jinawamsa Thera had his early education at Vidyabandu Pirivena at Kirimetiyana under Ven. Pindapathika Sudhammalankara Thera, the Mahanayaka of Amarapura Mula Vamsa Nikaya. In 1931, he joined Vidyodaya Pirivena for higher education. He passed out from Vidyodaya with honours in Pali and Sanskrit and carried many prizes. After completing his studies, Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera returned to his native temple Abayasekeraramaya in Negambo. As a young Bhikku he took a leading part in all religious and cultural activities in Negombo. During his time Abesekeraramaya became a hive of spiritual and social activity. Meegomuwe Jinwamsa Thera set up Susilodaya Sunday Dhamma School in Negombo and was its head for 40 years. He was the patron of Negombo Buddha Sadachara Vardhana Samitiya and played a leading role to establish Buddha Mandiraya in Negombo overcoming many obstacles. He also initiated the formation of Bauddha Kulagana Samitiya in Negombo. It was Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera who organised Buddhist Associations in Negombo hospital and Negombo prisons. He encouraged the formation of the Negombo Buddhist Lawyers’ Association. Even the Catholic lawyers participated in philosophical discussions conducted by Meegomuwe Jinwamse Thera in this society. He also took a leading role to establish the Bhikku ward in the Negombo hospital. Dr. E.R. Wijerama was so taken up by the work of Meegomuwe Jinwamsa Thera, he and his wife built a temple in a plot of land in Kadirana and donated it to Jinawamsa Thera. This is the present Wijeramaya Temple Kadirana, The Buddhists in Kochchikade on the outskirts of Negombo were handicapped without a temple for their religious activities. Meegomuwe Jinwamsa Thera with the assistance of the businessmen there established Sri Saddharmodaya Vihare at Kochchikade. In 1961, when Madampe Aggawamsa Tissa Nayaka Thera passed away, Meegomuwe Jinwamsa Thera succeeded him as the incumbent of Abhayasekeraramaya Temple in Negombo. It was Jinwamsa Thera who built the beautiful Chaithya at Abhayasekeraramaya. He converted it to a seat of higher studies. Many Buddhists and non-Buddhists including Catholic Clergy came to study Pali and Sanskrit for higher examinations under Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera. This writer too studied Sinhala for University Entrance at the feet of Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera. Ven. Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera was a well-known preacher of Bana as well. He was much in demand all over the country for his erudite Buddhist sermons. He preached Bana through the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He taught Buddhism for higher classes at Harischandra Vidyalaya, Negombo. He was also a poet and author of several books. His works “Bhakthi Malinee” and “Sanvega Malinee” present Buddhist philosophy in simple verses. Poems from “Bhakthi Malinee” were often recited in “Bosath Lama Lapatiyo” programme on the SLBC. Some verses in “Sanvega Malinee” contained so much pathos; they were recited along with those of “Wessanthara Jathakaya” at nights at funeral houses in Negombo. The well-known poet Wimalendra Waturegama once remarked that in language and in style Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera came close to Wattave Thera of Guttilaya fame. He also presented “Bauddha Gedera” and “Saranamali” in prose exalting the Buddhist way of life and culture. Ven. Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera was a well-known supporter of the SLFP. He was close to the SLFP hierarchy. However he was not a political activist, and never gave a political dimension to religion. He worked with all irrespective of their political convictions for their progress. Nevertheless he always came to the forefront on national issues. In 1944 when Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara presented the Free Education Bill, he was opposed by the vested interests. In this endeavour Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara was ably backed by the progressive Buddhist Bhikkus cantered round Vidyalankara Privena. Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera who was a young bhikku at the time too joined them and campaigned for free education. In 1956 Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera threw all his efforts to bring about a national resurgence that led to the victory of the MEP. He played a leading role in 1960 to mobilise both Catholics and non-Catholics in and around Negombo in favour of the Schools take over. Though Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera fought hard for the religious and cultural rights of the Buddhists, humanism was his policy and he believed in the rights of others. He was deeply interested in the Buddhist-Christian friendship, which made him a popular and venerated personality among the Catholics. For over a decade he was a patron of Meegomuwe Janatha Balavegaya, an organisation set up by the Catholic clergy in Negombo. That is not all. For over 20 years Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera was the secretary of the Pradeshiya Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya in the area. He was also a joint secretary of the Three Nikaya Sangha Sabha of the Negombo division. At the time of his death he was the Nakaya Thera of the Negombo division of the Amarapura Mula Vamsa Nikaya. Ven. Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera kindled the light of Dhamma in a predominantly Catholic area. At national level he participated and played a leading role in every movement and struggle for the betterment of the people. Meegomuwe Jinawamsa Thera has made his indelible stamp on the contemporary religious, cultural and social scene. (The writer is a former High Court judge)
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