Venerable Kalugala Chandaloka Thero joined WWBMMC as a resident monk in November 2021. He is a Buddhist scholar from Vidyodaya Maha Piriwena (Monastic College) Maradana, Sri Lanka and has been serving as a monk since 2004. He was a senior resident monk at Mahabodhi Agrashrawaka Maha Viharaya, Colombo prior to his arrival in Canada.
Venerable Kalugala Chandaloka Thero was born in 1992 in Mathugama, Sri Lanka. He was ordained as a novice monk (Samanera) at Sri Dharmaramaya, Kalugala in 2004, and was higher ordained (Upasampada) in 2015 attached to Siyam Maha Nikaya, Kotte Chapter.
He received his primary education in Athale Maha Vidyalaya, Kalugala, At the age of 12 he ordained as a junior monk and continued his monastic education at Sri Dharmapala Maha Pirivena, Bellana where he completed the final examination in 2010 (Piriven Awasana), He continued his GCE A/L examination in 2013 attached to Sri Shilananda Pirivena, Kegalle.
He also took the Preliminary Examination of Pracheena (Praramba) in 2011, Intermediate examination (Madya) in 2016, Dharmacharya in 2016, attached to The Oriental Studies Society of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Education.
During this period, he has gained necessary language skills to preach the Buddhist doctrine such as Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala. Also, in depth knowledge in Buddhist Culture, Numerous philosophical schools of thought and Pali Canon.
