Age, Biography and Wiki

Athuraliye Rathana Thero (Ranjith Welikanda) was born on 10 October, 1962 in Matara, Sri Lanka, is a Sri Lankan politician. Discover Athuraliye Rathana Thero's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 61 years old?

Popular As Ranjith Welikanda
Occupation Politician and Social Activist
Age 61 years old
Zodiac Sign Libra
Born 10 October, 1962
Birthday 10 October
Birthplace Matara, Sri Lanka
Nationality Sri Lankan

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 10 October. He is a member of famous Politician with the age 61 years old group.

Athuraliye Rathana Thero Height, Weight & Measurements

At 61 years old, Athuraliye Rathana Thero height not available right now. We will update Athuraliye Rathana Thero's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
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Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

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Athuraliye Rathana Thero Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Athuraliye Rathana Thero worth at the age of 61 years old? Athuraliye Rathana Thero’s income source is mostly from being a successful Politician. He is from Sri Lankan. We have estimated Athuraliye Rathana Thero's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Politician

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Timeline

1962

Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero (අතුරලියේ රතන හිමි; born 5 October 1962), is a Sri Lankan [Sinhala Buddhist] Bhikkhu politician and a Member of Parliament.

He is the only representative from Our Power of People's Party in the current parliament.

He was born on 5 October 1962 in Athuraliya in the Matara District, as Ranjith Welikanda the youngest in a family with seven siblings.

His father Peirishamy Welikanda did gem testing as a profession.

His mother Ceciliyana Halgamuwa was a housewife.

He got his basic education from Athuraliya Maha Vidyalaya up to grade 8.

1976

On 11 May 1976, at the age of fourteen, he became a Buddhist monk, taking on the name, Athuraliye Rathana.

He was ordained to the Saddhammawansa Nikaya, a pioneer of the Amarapura Nikaya, by Wadiye Sumangala Thero and Polathugoda Gnaanaloka Thero.

He received Buddhist education from Jayasumana Pirivena at Matara and at Shishyalankara Pirivena at Ambalangoda.

He got his higher education at the Pinnawatta Pirivena, Panadura.

After passing the exam he entered University of Peradeniya, obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Philosophy, and later completed his master's degree in Philosophy.

He also studied scriptures of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana extensively.

Then he wrote the book which contained a comparative study upon the differences between the philosophical differences of Mahayana and Theravada traditions.

He also wrote the book with an annotation of the Maha Satipattana Sutta.

The book called "Buddha In You" explains the essence of the Dharma.

He authored another book called, "Buddhism for Sustainability" which explains how the Buddhist way of life can be the alternative to the modern materialistic lifestyle with an overconsumption that has given rise to many forms of crisis.

1994

After obtaining degree in 1994, he gave leadership to an active peoples movement called the "Janatha Mithuro" (The friends of people) to defeat the then UNP government.

Before entering politics, he made extensive work on Western and Eastern philosophical ideas.

He has especially studied Marxist philosophy.

He participated UN summit, representing the Government of Sri Lanka on multiple occasions.

Once, he delivered a speech, representing the Buddhist representatives at the Inter-Religious Federation conference, which was chaired by the President of France, and was held along with the summit.

At that conference, he presented a special report with the theme, "How to achieve the goals of the United Nations".

He gave the leadership to build the Nationalist Bhikku movement called Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya (National Congress of Buddhist Clergy) which played an immense role in the political struggle against the Tamil independence movement and the genocide against Sri Lankan Tamils.

Along with Sihala Urumaya and National Movement against Terrorism, Rathana Thero build a nationalist movement called Patriotic Nationalist Front and started addressing the Nationalist sentiments, even though it violates the Buddha's teachings.

2001

In 2001, he delivered a special lecture on "Modern environmental crisis and solutions through the Buddhist philosophy" at the International Conference at the University of Bath in England, held in Tripura, India.

2004

Rathana was a founding member of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) in February 2004, a Sinhala Buddhist nationalist party in Sri Lanka where he became the National Organizer of that party.

In a short period of campaign JHU could win about 550,000 votes and the party secured 9 seats in the parliament at Parliamentary Election.

Then he was selected as a parliamentarian from Gampaha district and he was given the responsibility to act as the parliamentary team leader of the party.

JHU played a major role in defeating the pseudo-anti-war pacifistic sentiments that were organized by certain sections of the government through programs such as "Sudu Nelum" and "Thavalam".

Rathana Thero played a key role in the JHU within the parliament and outside the parliament.

He was a member of the parliamentary main committee.

2005

In 2005, with the help of JHU, Mahinda Rajapaksa secure a narrow victory over Ranil Wickramasinghe in the 2005 Presidential election.

2015

In 2015, Rathana and the JHU played a major role in defeating Mahinda Rajapaksa and making Maithripala Sirisena President.

He represented many advisory committees.

In the 2015 general election, Rathana Thero was a national list nominee of the United People’s Freedom Alliance.

He was appointed to the parliament after United National Party won the election.

2019

On 19 March 2019, he started a hunger strike in front of the Temple of the Tooth.

It was initiated for being asked to step down the posts of the Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Governor of the Western Province Azath Salley and Governor of the Eastern Province M. L. A. M. Hizbullah.

2020

He also delivered a keynote address at the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) conference held in Taiwan in 2020.

When he was a university student he was a pioneer activist in student's movements.