MOHAMED WAFEER
DOHA The Most respected chief incumbent/priest (නායක හාමුදුරු) of Dumbuluwawa Sri vijayarama temple, Hawwovita gunasiri himi passed away at the ripe age of 94, on Sunday (09/03/2025) at 1.30 am at the temple peacefully. He has served in the temple an uninterrupted period of more than four decades, having maintained an extraordinary good relationship with all communities of Hemmathagama.
He was very well known amongst all walks of life of both Sinhala and Muslim communities of the region, especially amongst Dumbuluwawa community, for his unparalleled understanding and corporation in matters connecting both communities wellbeing. Whenever there have been misunderstanding and confusion between the communities he personally appeared to have the issues sorted out and bridge the situation with his charisma.
He was very much attached to Dumbuluwawa Muslim village for decades and never failed to pay visit to any functions, ceremonies in our school, masjid and other places upon our kind invitation, as he was someone highly respected by our people. There is a very strong bond between the Dumbuluwawa Muslims and Buddhist communities since long time and the late respected Himi Hawwovita gunasekara’s contriibution too has been a key factor for such relationship. He also welcomed the our trustee board members to the temple whenever there have been such occasions where our people could take part. I do not know whether people of our region born after 2000s know about the late himi and his relationship with us. He always had a pleasant smile on his face and it indeed was the index of his mind undoubtedly.
Last few weeks we got to know that he was sick and bedridden at his temple and our Dumbuluwawa people were in queue day and night to visit him paying their respect. Today he completed his allocated time on this earth breathing his last and returned to rest. It is an irreparable loss to both Muslim and Buddhist communities of our region. Later on, we heard that he had pledged, his body to be donated to the teaching hospital of Peradeniya, upon his demise, for the medical students of University of Peradeniya, to benefit. Accordingly, his remains were taken to the hospital for such noble cause. May his soul be blessed.
