The History Kanduboda Meditation Centre

The Siyane Vipassana Meditation Society at Kanduboda was founded in 1955 with the objective of providing facilities where the teachings of the Buddha and most especially the practice of Vipassana (insight) Meditation could be made easily available to people of Sri Lanka and around the world.

The International centre for Training in Buddhist Meditation was opened shortly thereafter on January 8,1956 under the sponsorship of the late Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw,a most venerated meditation master from Burma (Myanmar).

The late venerable Sumathipala Maha Thero, who had recieved training in Vipassana from the age of eighteen, guided the teaching, training and development of the centre until his death on June 14, 1982 at the age of 86.

Rathmalkanda Kithal-Ella, Ella.

Ratmalkanda  Meditation Centre  established  in Oct 2006   offers instructions on Vipassana Meditation in the traditions of Ven Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma.The centre is under the direction of  Rev. M. Upali  Thero,  a pupil of Ven. Sumathipala Thera.

Rev. Upali has 30 years of experience in the practice of VIPASSANA MEDITATION and was the former Head of the Kanduboda  Meditation Centre. He was a former science teacher and a visiting lecturer of Buddhist philosophy at the Kelaniya University in 1999.

The centre is situated in a beautiful setting in an isolated village in Ella. Nestling amidst the lushes tea bushes, coniferous pine wood and the green rolling hills, it is a veritable paradise that offers a mystical and serene atmosphere for the meditator. The mist clad Namunukula mountain range adds to the beauty of the panoramic view.