Baddegama Samitha Thero | |
---|---|
පූජ්ය බද්දේගම සමිත හිමි | |
Title | Chief Incumbent of the Baddegama Gothatuwa Sripada Chaithyaramaya |
Personal | |
Born | |
Died | 30 May 2021 Matara, Sri Lanka | (aged 68)
Cause of death | Complications from COVID-19 |
Religion | Buddhism |
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
School | Theravada |
Alma mater | University of Kelaniya Lancaster University |
Dharma names | Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thero |
Organization | |
Temple | Baddegama Gothatuwa Sripada Chaithyaramaya |
Member of Parliament for Galle District | |
In office 2001–2004 | |
Personal details | |
Political party | Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna |
Other political affiliations | Lanka Sama Samaja Party United People's Freedom Alliance |
Baddegama Samitha Thero also simply known as Samitha Thero (14 September 1952 – 30 May 2021: Sinhala: පූජ්ය බද්දේගම සමිත හිමි) was a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and a politician.[1] A member of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thero was a member of the Sri Lankan parliament for Galle District from 2001 to 2004.[2] He represented the Southern Provincial Council under United People's Freedom Alliance.[3] Samitha Thero is regarded as the first ever Buddhist monk to enter the Parliament of Sri Lanka.[4][5]