Umandawa

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Umandawa Global Buddhist Village (or Umandawa Maha Vihara Monastery) is a recently developed a so called Buddhist religious village operated by the controversial monk named Siri Samanthabhadra Thero who has self proclaimed to have reached the stage of supreme bliss (Arahath stage) and operates under the name of Siri Samanthabhadra Maha Arahath Thero. Umandawa it self is marketed as a personal retreat for everybody.

Umandawa is open from 7 am to 5 pm at all days, for the whole week, throughout the entire year. The entrance is free for everyone. All visitors are welcomed by monks and nuns who are assigned as a welcome committee to deal with visitor and guest relations. They tend to all questions and inquiries, and also perform guided tours of the land. For the guests its provides a wide range of Buddhist spiritual programs and accommodation options. This is within the community grounds for guests who wish to experience and learn about the lifestyle of the community

Umandawa Global Buddhist Village (or Umandawa Maha Vihara Monastery) community functions as a Buddhist Monastery and a non-profit organization, which is registered under the brand name ‘Umandawa Maha Vihara Monastery’ and the company name ‘Siri Sadaham Ashramaya’. Siri Sadaham Ashramaya, based in Dehiwala, is where most of the fundraising, administration and marketing activities are coordinated. Umandawa sells itself as a self sufficient community with organic farming by the community themselves. The land is approximately 70 acres which was purchased with financial support of a monk (now diseased) who had been a doctor before entering the priesthood. according to the community of the monks. The land has been an abandoned coconut plantation before changing hands in 2015.

Siri Samanthabhadra Thero

Siri Samanthabhadra was born in 1975 in Pitiduwa, Galle and entered priesthood in the year 2000 as Pitiduwe Siridhamma. With his impressive gift for articulation of ideas and the ability to attract listeners, he became a popular preacher soon after. With the growth of the popularity and the followers, he changed his name to Siri Samanthabhadra and after the self proclamation of him reaching Arhath stage calls himself the Samanthabhadra Maha Arahath Thero. The name Samanthabhadra itself is a name used to call Buddha himself in Tibetan Buddhism.

The Vision of Umandawa

The Umandawa Global Buddhist Village provides a variety of modules that can be applied to the improvement of society. These modules can also be used to prepare your mind for innovation and spiritual guidance through the practice of "Living in presence."

Umandawa organic farms

Adopting a non-toxic diet in Sri Lanka, organic fertilizer users have created lucrative organic farms producing a variety of vegetables and fruits, setting an example for the great Sri Lanka itself.

Umandawa Products

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About Kurunegala District

Kurunegala is the capital of the Wayamba Province in Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District.Kurunegala was a royal capital for only 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the next, though even before this it was strategically placed in the middle of other majestic strongholds such as Yapahuwa to the north, Dambadeniya to the south and Panduwasnuwara in the east. Ethagala a rock reaching 316 meters, towers over the town, which is located at an altitude of 116 meters above sea level. The shape of Ethagala resembles an Elephant. A transport hub, it has a railway station, and several main roads linking important parts of the country.Kurunegala is situated about 94 km from Colombo, and 42 km from Kandy.

Most of Kurunegala's residents belong to the Sinhalese majority. Other ethnic minorities include the Sri Lankan Moors, Sri Lankan Tamils, Burghers and Malays. Residents from ethnic minorities live in all parts of the city, however, sizeable communities of Moors and Tamils also live in the areas of Teliyagonna and Wilgoda.

About North Western Province

North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam formulate North Western or Wayamba. Its capital is Kurunegala, which has a population of 28,571. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw (24,712) and Puttalam (45,661), which are both small fishing towns. The majority of the population of Wayamba province is of Sinhalese ethnicity. There is also a substantial Sri Lankan Moor minority around Puttalam and Sri Lankan Tamils in Udappu and Munneswaram. Fishing, prawn farming and rubber tree plantations are other prominent industries of the region. The province has an area of 7,888 km² and a population of 2,184,136 (2005 calculation).

Wayamba is the third largest paddy producing area in Sri Lanka .Wayamba has a highly developed agricultural economy, growing a variety of fruits and vegetables, flowering plants, spices, oil-seeds in addition to the traditional plantation crops such as Coconut, Rubber and Rice. Rich soils and varied climate give Wayamba a potential for growing of virtually any crop.

In Wayamba or North western province, home for ancient Buddhist rock temples, magnificent citadels Panduwasnuwara, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kurunegala. Impressive remains of those citadels, palaces, Buddhist temples and monasteries provide exciting sight seeing to the visitors.

【Text by Lakpura™. Images by Google, copyright(s) reserved by original authors.】