Venerable Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayake Thero

Born on February 3, 1957, in the remote village of Thanamalwila, Sri Lanka, Venerable Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayake Thero entered the monkhood as a novice (Samanera) in 1970 at the age of thirteen. He received his higher ordination (Upasampada) in 1980 from the Malwatte Chapter.

His academic journey is marked by excellence in Buddhist studies, having earned his Thripitakavedi Degree from the Buddhasravaka Bhiksu University in Anuradhapura. Mastery of Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala, English, and Chinese has allowed him to bridge cultural divides throughout his career. In 2003, the University of Ruhuna awarded him an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for his global contributions to the propagation of Buddhist philosophy.