Most Venerable Jinaratana Nayaka Maha Thera, the General Secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society of India and the Vice-President of the Asian Buddhist Council for Peace was born on 17th March, 1913, at Neluwa, Galle District, in Sri Lanka. He entered the Buddhist Order as a pupil of Venerable Panangala Vipulatissa Maha Thera, at Panangala Vihara in 1930. He received higher ordination at Malwatta Maha Vihara, Kandy in 1933. He had his education in Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit and Buddhism at Ananda Pirivena, Kitulampitiya and Vidyoloka Pirivena, Galle. Vener- able Neluwe Sri Gunananda Nayaka Thero, realising this young monk’s abilities and the services he would render for Buddhism, sent him to India for higher education in 1936. This was the time when Mr. Devapriya Valisinghe was carrying on the activities of the Maha Bodhi Society in India which was founded by the late Venerable Anagarika Dharmapala for the revival of Buddhism in India. In 1928, seeing the administrative ability of this young monk the General Secretary appointed him as the Bhikkhu-in-charge of the Sri Dharmarajika Vihara at Calcutta.
After joining the Maha Bodhi Society, he devoted his whole life for the progress of the Society. Acknowledging his services and efficiency, he was appointed as the Assistant Secretary in 1943. Successively, he became the Joint Secretary and later was appointed as the General Secretary following the demise of Mr. Valisinghe.
He was honoured by the Sangha Council of Malwatta Chapter of Siamopali Sect by conferring on him the title of Sangha Nayaka of India in recognition of the services rendered by him. The academic world was not far behind in recognising his services. In 1960 the then Vidyodaya University of Ceylon honoured him with an honorary degree. and the Post-Graduate Research Institute of Nava Nalanda Maha Vihara conferred on him the D.Litt. Degree in 1976. As his fame spread, invitations flooded him to participate in Conferences held in various countries.
In 1982 he was honoured by the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace with the Medal for Peace. He was one of the Vice-Presidents and Founder- Members of the Asian Buddhist Council for Peace.
During the Second World War, West Bengal was ravaged by a severe famine which took a heavy toll of human lives. Venerable Nayaka Thera, did yeoman service in organising relief work, and he founded the Maha Bodhi Welfare Home & Orphanage for destitute in 1943. Various construction) works started by Mr. Valisinghe for the convenience of the pilgrims arriving from different parts of the world were completed by him. The two buildings. Dharmapala Institute of Culture and the Welfare Home standing on either side of the Sri Dharmarajika Vihara, bear testimony to his ability. His services were not confined to these affairs. After appointment as the Managing Editor of the Maha Bodhi Journal in English he further extended his services to propagate Buddhism throughout the world. This has circulation in 64 countries. The University of Calcutta received the services of Ven. Jinaratana, by appointing him as a Member of its Advisory Board. He also served as a prominent Member of the Buddha Gaya Temple Management Committee.
In addition, he forged strong links between the Maha Bodhi Society and various Buddhist countries in general and Japan in particular.
