Gangodawila Soma Thero

Gangodawila Soma Thero
ගංගොඩවිල සෝම හිමි
TitleChief incumbent of Buddhist Temple Victoria (Australia)
Personal
Born(1948-04-24)24 April 1948
Gangodawila, Sri Lanka
Died12 December 2003(2003-12-12) (aged 55)
ReligionBuddhism
NationalitySinhalese
DenominationTheravada
SchoolAmarapura Nikaya Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte
Alma mater
Teachers

Gangodawila Soma Thero (24 April 1948 – 12 December 2003) was a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk) from Sri Lanka. Following tradition, he used the name of his birthplace, Gangodawila, in front of his name; thero is a term for an elder monk. Soma thero followed the example set by his teachers, Madihe Pannaseeha Thero and Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero and was both a learned monk and a social reformer. The cause of his death remains in dispute.