Leeds Buddhist Vihara

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Our Leeds Dhamma school was established in 2013 to fulfil the need of many Sri Lankans living in Yorkshire who were seeking to educate their children in Buddhism and  an insight in to our cultural heritage.

The need to establish a Buddhist temple was then mirrored and four years later the task was accomplished in 2017.  A Place of worship in Leeds under the guidance of Most Venerable Pidiwille Piyatissa Nayaka Maha Thero and  most Venerable Galpottayaye Pemananda Thero was incorporated as a Charity by the name of Leeds Buddhist Vihara. It was established with donations received from the Devotees and the Devotees kindly support the maintenance of the establishment by making generous contributions which are valued and greatly appreciated by the Temple.

Our Temple hosts religious festivals such as Vesak, Poson, and Kathina (the main annual auspicious festival held in a temple) and the cultural festival -The Leeds Surya Mangalya to celebrate and  recognise the importance of Avurudu. The aim of such celebrations is to provide a cultural experience to our Sri Lankan children living in Yorkshire.

We provide necessary Buddhist activities such as meditation, teaching dhamma, act as a place of worship, provide alms to monks, spiritual advise when needed, and so forth.

Leeds Buddhist Vihara is currently a registered charity in England (registered no 1175406) and is governed  by our Board of Trustees who are:

• Most Venerable Pidiwille Piyatissa Nayaka Maha Thero (Chair)

• Most Venerable Galpottayaye Pemananda Thero (Head of operations)

• Mr. Shalindra Panditarathne (Secretary)

• Mr. Chanaka Mudalige (Treasurer)

• Dr. Chaminda Weerasekara (Operational Co-ordinator)

As a Charity, the Trustees ensure that all activities are conducted within the legal and regulatory requirements laid down by the Charity Commission in England and Wales.

In 2013, under the esteemed guidance of Most Venerable Pidiwille Piyatissa Nayaka Maha Thero and Most Venerable Galpottayaye Pemananda Thero, and through the dedicated efforts of parents across Leeds and Yorkshire County, Leeds Dhamma School was established.

Driven by the shared vision of Maha Sangha, parents and the community, Leeds Dhamma School provides children and young people with a comprehensive understanding of the Buddhism, Sri Lanka Culture and our ethical values.

Currently, over fifty students benefit from the school’s enriching curriculum, delivered by a team of dedicated volunteer teachers.

The Dhamma school takes immense pride in the achievements of its alumni. Students who attended the Dhamma School have gone on to lead successful spiritual lives and excel in diverse professions, including medicine, engineering and other high-level fields.