Speaker’s Profile
Ven. Prof. Dr. Dhammavihari Thero who is better known among Buddhist Scholars as Professor Jotiya Dhirasekera until his ordination as a member of the Buddhist Sangha on 18 May 1990 at the age of 69. Bhante was the former Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya and also a learned scholar and linguist.

Bhante is a popular writer and has published many books re-examining many current Buddhist traditional practices and beliefs while advocating a return to the original Buddha’s Teachings. Bhante is the author of numerous monographs, including a rich collection of Buddhist Essays entitled “A Correct Vision and A Life Sublime”. His magnum opus, Buddhist Monastic Discipline is published in the Ministry of Higher Education Research Publication Series, Sri Lanka in 1982.

Bhante was the founder-Director of the International Buddhist Research and Information Centre (IBRIC) of Sri Lanka. Bhante is a regular broadcaster and a contributor to the written and the electronic media on Buddhist Subjects both a national and international levels. Bhante has traveled widely covering Canada, U.S.A., England, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.