Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero

Agga Maha Pandita Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero
Most.Ven Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero
Religion	Buddhism
School	Theravada
Lineage	Amarapura Sect
Dharma names	Ven. Balangdoda Ananda Maitreya Thero
Personal
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Born	(1896-08-23)23 August 1896 Balangoda
Died	18 July 1998(1998-07-18) (aged 101) Colombo
Senior posting
Title	President, Amarapura Nikaya Vice Chancellor, Vidyodaya University Professor of Buddhism Abidhadja Maharattaguru Agga Maha Pandita Thripitaka Vaagishwaracharya Pravachana Visharada Raajakeeya Panditha Saahithyasuuri Saahithya Chakrawarthi

Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero (Sinhalese: අග්ග මහා පණ්ඩිත බලංගොඩ ආනන්ද මෛත්‍රෙය මහනාහිමි;23 August 1896 – 18 July 1998) was a Sri Lankan scholar Buddhist monk. He was highly respected by Sri Lankan Buddhists, who believe that he achieved a higher level of spiritual development through meditation. Sri Lankan Buddhists also considered Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero as a Bodhisattva, who will attain Buddhahood in a future life. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero lived a modest life and did a great service for the propagation of Buddhist philosophy. In recognition of his valuable service at the Sixth Buddhist council held in Burma, the Burmese government conferred on him the title "Agga Mahapandita" (Chief Great Scholar) in 1956. Later in March 1997, the Burmese government conferred on Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero the highest Sangha title, "Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru" (Most Eminent Great Spiritual Teacher), which is equivalent to Sangharaja, in honor of his unique service to the Buddhist religion.

Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero was born on 23 August 1896 in Kirindigala, Balangoda, to the family of N. A. Mathises Appuhamy (Maddumahamy) and B. Heenmanike. His birth name was Punchi Mahattaya aka William. Because Punchi Mahattaya's mother died when he was 14 days old, he was brought up by his father's brother and his wife. Punchi Mahattaya had his primary education at Kumara Vidyalaya, Balangoda.

At the age of 15 he had decided to enter the order of Buddhist monks and was ordained as a Samanera at the temple Sri Nandaramaya, Udumulla, Balangoda on 2 March 1911. He was ordained under the guidance of Ven. Daamahana Dhammananda Thero and Deniyaye Seelananda Thero was his primary teacher (Upaadhyaayanwahanse). Balangdoda Ananda Maitreya Thero received his Upasampada on 14 July 1916 at Olu Gantota Udakukhepa Seema, Balangoda.