Danish-Born Venerable Mettavihari Thero Passes Away

 The Danish national, Venerable Mettavihari Thero, who played a pioneering role in spreading Theravada Buddhism from Sri Lanka worldwide by integrating it with modern technology, has passed away. Born in Denmark, His Eminence came to this country and engaged in monastic services. He returned to his homeland and passed away while receiving treatment for an illness.

Having resided for a long time at Narada Mandiraya in Colombo 07, His most significant monastic contribution was the program to computerize the Tripitaka Dhamma, based on a concept by the Most Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Maha Nayaka Thero. The pioneering task of distributing Buddhism to the people of the world free of charge through new technology was carried out by him.

His Eminence, who entered monastic life on June 26, 1988, at the Siri Vajiragnana Dharmayatanaya in Maharagama under the tutelage of the Most Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Maha Nayaka Thero and the Most Respected Ampitiye Sri Rahula Nayaka Thero, was a monk who always acted with a mind of loving-kindness, adding meaning to his name.

Although a foreigner, His Eminence possessed the ability to speak Sinhala very fluently and led a very simple and austere life. Devoted not only to religious revival but also to enlightening children, Venerable Mettavihari initiated a religious electronic channel named 'Dhammavahini'.

Later, he also took steps to transform it into a broad educational channel providing knowledge to schoolchildren across various subject streams, and all these social welfare activities were carried out without any expectation of profit, purely out of altruism.

The customary 'Pansukula Pinkama' (merit-sharing ceremony) for the deceased Thero was held yesterday afternoon at the Narada Buddhist Dharmayatanaya premises in Colombo 07. The cremation ceremony for His Eminence's remains is scheduled to take place today (09) in Copenhagen, Denmark.