Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thera was born on 23 August 1896 in Kirindigala,
Balangoda, to the family of N. A. Matthias
Appuhamy (Maddumahamy) and B. Heenmanike. He was ordained under the guidance of Daamahana Dhammananda Thera and Deniyaye Seelananda Thera was his primary teacher (
Upaadhyaayanwahanse). Balangdoda Ananda Maitreya Thera received his
Upasampada on 14 July 1916 at Olu Gantota Udakukhepa Seema, Balangoda. Thera continued his studies after becoming a monk and later became a scholar in
Buddhism and
languages. Thera entered
Ananda College,
Colombo in 1919 and became a teacher at the same school in 1922. Unusually for a
Theravada teacher, he publicly studied some other traditions, such as
Mahayana Buddhism,
mantra, and esoteric
yoga. Ananda Maitreya Thera was the first Dharmarcharya (teacher of Buddhism) at
Nalanda College Colombo when it was first established in 1925. It was Thera who named it 'Nalanda' and chose
Apadana Sobhini Panna meaning
wisdom beautifies character as Nalanda College's
motto, which is still being used. Later he became the professor of
Mahayana Buddhism at
Vidyodaya University, Sri Lanka. He was appointed to the post of
Dean, Faculty of Buddhist Studies in 1963. On 1 October 1966, he was appointed to the post of
vice chancellor at the same university. Ananda Maitreya Thera's first overseas
Dhamma journey was to
Kerala, India in 1926. He opened the Sri Dhammananda Pirivena, Colombo in 1930. On 18 January 1954, Thera was appointed to the post of Sangha Nayaka of
Sabaragamu-Saddhammawansa Nikaya and in the same year, he participated in the
Sixth Buddhist council held in
Myanmar. On 2 September 1969, Ananda Maitreya Thera was appointed as the President of
Amarapura Sangha Sabhā of Sri Lanka. Ananda Maitreya Thera was famous for his achievements in
Buddhist meditation. He was known to have practiced both
Samatha meditation and
Vipassana meditation to a great extent and was considered to be having a highly developed mind through his
meditation. Many Buddhists have experienced his powerful spiritual blessings in many more ways than one. His teachings and life have been an inspiration to many aspiring
monks and
lay followers. Ananda Maitreya Thera, along with
Narada Thera and
Madihe Pannaseeha Thera, was and still is one of the foremostly revered and respected Buddhist monks of the twentieth century in Sri Lanka. His work and sacrifices with
Anagarika Dharmapala were one of the steering forces of the upholding of
Buddhism in Sri Lanka at one stage. They also traveled to many countries in the world for the propagation of Buddhism. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thera died at 11.40 p.m. on 18 July 1998 at the age of 101. ==Degrees and titles==