Venerable Maharagama Dhammasiri Maha Thera, the President of the Washington Buddhist Vihara - the very first Theravada Buddhist temple in the USA - has been honored by the Supreme Sangha Council of the Amarapura Dharmarakshita Buddhist Monastic order by conferring the highest appellation of the order in recognition of his contributions in propagating the Buddha Dhamma in North America. However Bhante Dhammasiri has firmly requested that no ceremonies or celebrations should be held on this behalf.

Born to parents - Mr. and Mrs. H.B.P. Deraniyagala of Maharagama, Sri Lanka on August 25, 1949 and chose become a monk, of his own accord at age 10. He was ordained on June 5th 1960, as the first pupil of the Most Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayake Maha Thera and the Most Ven. Ampitiye Sri Rahula Maha Thera at the Bhikku Training Centre, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. After the completion of the 10 year programme in advanced religious education he was sent as the Chief Incumbent of the Vajiraramaya, Anurudhapura. He was brought back to Maharagama Bikku Training Centre in 1975 to manage the administrative procedures of the institution while functioning as an instructor. He also functioned as a visiting lecture at the Government Teachers Training College of Maharagama from 1975 until 1987. He left Sri Lanka in October 1987 for Washington Buddhist Vihara and became the Chief Incumbent in 1988.

He has been presented with the honorific title " Sri Dharmarakshita Vanshadhvaja " and Chief Sanghanayake of North America. The formal honorific certificate was presented in a ceremony hosted by Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the President Sri Lanka at the President's House on the 5th of July 2003.

The Washington D.C. Buddhist Vihara
5017 16th Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20011