Myanmar President U. Win Myint has conferred the Honorary Religious Title of “Aggamahapandita” on four Sri Lankan monks and several other Honorary Titles on three Buddhist Priests and one Layman from Sri Lanka, in honour of the 73rd Anniversary of the Independence Day of Myanmar.
Ven. Mihiripenne Sobhita Thera, Sri Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya, Dehiwala,Ven.Dr. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarakkhita Maha Thera, Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya and Kithsirimevan Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven.Thirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Maha Thera, Sri Amarapura Dharmarakshitavamsa Maha Nikaya and Ven.Dodampahala Chandrasiri Maha Nayaka Thera, Sri Kelayanivasa, Amarapura Maha Nikaya have been conferred with the Aggamahapandita Title.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ven. Gallelle Sumanasiri Thera of the Buddhist and Pali University and Prof. Dr. Ven. Medagampitiye Wijithadhamma Thera, Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies of the Sri Jayewardenepura University have been conferred with the Honorary Religious Title Aggamahasadhdhamma Jothika Dhaja.
Ven. Thumbowila Dhammaratana Thera, Thumbowilapurana Maha Viharaya, Piliyandala and Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne (retired), of the Damrivi Foundation have been conferred with the Honorary Religious Title, Maha Sadhdhamma Jothika Dhaja.
Aggamahapandita is an honorific Buddhist Title conferred by the Government of Myanmar to distinguished Theravada Buddhist Bhikkhus. The meaning of Aggamahapandita, is “foremost great and wise one,” which is derived from the following Pali terms. The Title is awarded to Buddhist Bhikkhus who are highly proficient in teaching Dhamma.