| Native Name: | 拿督达摩拉达那长老 |
| Honorific Prefix: | The Most Venerable Datuk |
| K. Sri Dhammaratana | |
| Birth Date: | 24 July 1948 |
| Birth Place: | Kirinde, Ceylon |
| Education: | Deiyandara National College |
| Alma Mater: | Parama Buddhist International University |
| Known For: | Welfare Projects and Community Outreach |
| Buddhist Chief High Priest of Malaysia | |
| Predecessor: | K. Sri Dhammananda |
The Most Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana 拿督达摩拉达那长老 (born 24 July 1948) is a Sri Lankan born Malaysian Buddhist monk and the incumbent Buddhist Chief High Priest of Malaysia, since the passing of his predecessor in 2006.[1]
Born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Basanayaka M. Siriwardena on the 24th of July 1948, in Kirinde, Matara, Sri Lanka. He was named Basanayaka M. Siripala. At the age of 17, he traded paths and in 1965 he was ordained and was given the name K. Dhammaratana. In 1972, he received his higher ordination (Upasampada) at Malwatta Maha Viharaya, Kandy.
Like his predecessor, he was born in the village of Kirinde in Matara, Sri Lanka on 24 July 1948, the second of five children of Basnayaka Mudiyanselage Siriwardena, an Ayurvedic physician, and Withanaarachchilage Dayawathie.[2] He completed his secondary education at the Central College of Deyiyandara. Immediately after graduating, he entered monastic life as a novice monk taking the name Kirinde Dhammaratana under the guidance of Venerable Kotawila Sri Deepananda Nayaka Thero.[3] While receiving monastic training, he also studied at Parama Buddhist International University.
In 1980, with the Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda's invitation, he traveled to Malaysia to be a resident monk at the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Kuala Lumpur.[4] He was subsequently appointed the principal of its Sunday Dhamma School in 1988, and served as principal for a year, before vacating the post for a visit to the United States. He resumed his position in 1994 and remained the principal until 2008, when he was promoted to the Spiritual Advisor of the school.
After his return from the United States in 1994, Dhammaratana was instrumental in setting up Ti-Ratana Welfare Society in Salak South Garden with the assistance of his friends, donors and supporters at the Buddhist Maha Vihara, and very soon developed it by adding various sections such as free clinics, orphanage, elderly homes and refugee centres for the neglected children and mothers. On 21 June 1997, The Welfare Society's 1st children's home, with just 12 children was officiated by Tan Sri Datin Paduka Hajjah Zaleha Bt. Ismail, also the Minister of National Unity and Community Development. It is now one of the most established and non-profit organisation in Malaysia.
Dhammmaratana set up a separate affiliated society, Ti-Ratana Buddhist Society, to promote Humanistic Buddhism. The Buddhist Society shares the same locations as the community centres and runs programmes in collaboration with Ti-Ratana Community Centres.[5] The society also runs 5 community centres across the Klang Valley that cater to promoting Malaysian Chinese culture to the community, with Chinese cultural classes teaching Chinese calligraphy and art.
On 12 March 2007 he was appointed as Chief Sangha Nayaka of Malaysia by the Malwatta Chapter of the Siam Nikaya.[2] [6] The Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia conferred him with a Datuk title in November 2010.[7]