Mr. Gelis de Alwis
founder of Bodhi Lankarama

When a Sinhalese gentleman, Mr. A.A. Gelis de Alwis, was brought by the British to Malaya in 1888 to help set up a printing press, the quiet little town of Taiping was the commercial and administrative centre of the state of Perak. By virtue of this fact, Taiping was the home to most Buddhists in the state including the Sinhalese, Siamese, Burmese and Chinese. With Mr. Alwis came his Sri Lankan culture, heritage and Buddhist faith and through these he was quick to recognise the need for a place of worship for the Buddhists in the town. Being a wealthier member of the Buddhist community in Taiping at that time, he was spurred on in 1889 to purchase a piece of land in Assam Kumbang to meet this end.

That same year he constructed a temple on the piece of land in the fashion of Sinhalese temples in Sri Lanka with eaves carved in the form of half circles all round the roof. The temple still stands today although the Sri Lankan features have been removed in recent times. The result of Alwis's deed in 1889 found a place instantly in the annals of history as being the first and oldest Sinhalese Buddhist temple in Malaysia, being five years before the foundation of the Brickfields Temple in Kuala Lumpur. Six years later in 1895, Alwis founded the Dharmoda Society to look after the temple and its religious affairs.

In the year 1890 Alwis invited a Sinhalese Buddhist from Ehelamalpe Malurata District in the Central Province of Ceylon, who had retired from the British Civil Service to serve as the head monk of the newly formed Buddhist temple. He was subsequently sent to Bangkok for three years to obtain his higher ordination and was there given the name Kissaro.

In 1893 Ven. Galle Nagoda Kissaro brought a Bodhi Tree sapling from the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, to be planted in the temple grounds. That same year a single brick wall was built surrounding the Bo sapling and later in 1901, the Sinhalese elders of the temple built two rows of broad brick walls with broad squares in between which is a feature of Sri Lankan architecture. Ven. Kissaro's efforts to pave the way for the growth and propagation of Buddhism won the respect and admiration of all Buddhists alike. He was also the only Buddhist monk in Malaya at that time who was an "Upadiya" (Pali: Upajjhaya), a monk who acts as preceptor of all other monks ordained under him.

In 1899 Alwis handed over the land he had purchased in 1889 to the Government for the purpose of worship for the Buddhist community in Taiping irrespective of colour or creed. This land was gazetted on 29th September 1899, with approval being given by the then Secretary to the Government, Mr. A. R. Venning. The land adjoining the temple was also declared a Buddhist Reserve in the year 1903 by the then Secretary to the Resident, Mr. R. G. Watson, and was named the "Bodi Langka Ram" (a misspelling for Bodhi Lankarama) after the venerated Bodhi Tree that had been brought from Sri Lanka.

Link to photocopy and transcript of original grant

In 1934, Ven. Kissaro formulated and laid down the Rules for all devotees of the temple including the Siamese and Sinhalese monks to honour and respect. By then the temple that Mr. Alwis had built had functionally become a Sima - a special building for the recital of the Patimokkha and for other legal acts of the Sangha. In the same year a new shrine hall was built for the laity in which was enshrined the images of the Buddha and Arahants built by sculptors From Sri Lanka. Ven. Kissaro remained in office as the head monk of the temple until he died on 22nd June 1940 at the age of 90, having spent around 45 years as a monk. He was succeeded by his assistant Ven. K. Sarananda who took over the position of Head Monk and worked in the temple until he returned to Ceylon in 1963.

Mr. A. A. Gelis de Alwis moved to Kuala Lumpur sometime before 1915 and he became one of the Trustees at the Brickfields Mahavihara, and later its President for a short time. Although then based in KL he continued as President and Treasurer at the Bodi Langka Ram Temple until his death in the year 1941, at which point his position was taken over by Mr. D. W. Attygalle. In 1945, the Taiping Buddhist Association was formed. Thirteen years later in 1957, the Association, with the aid of donations received from devotees, constructed the Dharmasala (preaching hall), which still stands till this day. The period from 1940 to 1968 saw the Venerables Sarananda, K. Mangala and H. Upatissa, all from Sri Lanka, tending to the religious needs of the devotees of the temple.

The religious aspects of the temple were taken care of by the Venerables R. Seevali and B. Somananda, both from Sri Lanka, during the period 1971 to 1978. Owing to factors beyond the control of the managing committee, the temple had no religious guidance from 1978 to 1984. But then in 1984 a turn of events took place with the setting up of a new working committee under the guidance of Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thera, who was appointed the spiritual director of the temple.

With the religious guidance and encouragement of the resident monk, Ven. M. Sumangala, a new vihara was started on May 10, 1986. On the 15th and 16th of December 1986, a Netra Pin Kama (Eye-Placing Ceremony) was held for the main Buddha statue in the existing vihara. The plan was to build the new vihara around this Buddha statue and the existing statues of Sariputta and Mogallana. The religious services were conducted by Ven. T. Sumangala Thera assisted by Ven. Saranankara of Sri Jayanti Temple, Sentul, and a Rev. Bodhi. Another important development for that year included plans for a two bedroom house to serve as Monks' Quarters which was submitted to the Town council for approval. This was the first ever plan to be drawn up for a Monk's Quarters.

Construction of the new vihara was completed in 1987 and it was officially opened at 5.00pm on June 20, 1987 by Y.B. Dato Paul Leong Khee Seong, MP for Taiping, who was also instrumental in obtaining a donation of RM 15,000/- from the government of Malaysia for the project. He also supported the visa application of the resident monk, Ven. T. Sumangala Thera. The religious ceremony was conducted by Ven. K Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thera. In all 21 Bhikkhus of the Maha Sangha graced the occasion. Also present were H.E. The High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Malaysia and his wife. Following the opening of the new vihara, an All-Night Chanting ceremony was hosted.

In 1991, a Sittara (painter) from Sri Lanka, Mr. Rohana Edirisinghe, was present in Malaysia and the long awaited correction of the Netra of the Buddha statue and other renovations to the various statues could be carried out. The auspicious day of November 26, 1991 was chosen for the beginning of the work and the Maha Sangha also informed devotees that the Netra was to be placed on the auspicious date of January 24, 1992 at 10.45am.

Also in 1991, a revised plan of the Monks' Quarters, Dharmasala and meditation centre was drawn up by the Management Committee with the advice of Ven. Pandit Pemaloka Thera and Ven. Sarana Tissa Thera.

The first step towards accommodating non-Sinhalese as members of the Association and office bearers in the Committee of the Association , which eventually materialized in 1999, first evolved when the President of the committee of 1992, Ms. Jessie Perera suggested that a Clause close to that effect be incorporated in the bye-laws of the Association. Other amendments also specified that the Association be called the "TAIPING BODI LANGKA RAM BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION" and the Association's premises be called "BODI LANGKA RAM BUDDHIST VIHARA" whilst maintaining the current address, and so in 1993 the name of the Association was changed accordingly.

Then in 1996, the Taiping Buddha Dhamma Society was formed and the formation of this society was formally approved by the Registrar of Societies on February 16 that year. The society was formed to accommodate the Associate members who were predominantly Chinese to fulfil their aspirations. A gracing ceremony for the society was organised and was very well attended on the July 7th 1996. The Most Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thera consented to be the Patron of the society.

On April 27, 1997 the installation Ceremony of the Buddha Statue at the Bodhi Tree was hosted. At the 35th AGM on May 18 1997 it was mentioned that plans had been submitted for the renovation of the existing structure around the Bodhi tree. The new construction project consisted of a pavilion structured according to Sri Lankan architecture and an extension to the sitting area of the Bodhi Tree, and other minor works. These projects were completed by the Association on April 26, 1997 with the help of the Taiping Buddha Dhamma Society, which also undertook another project to beautify the landscape of the Temple, which was completed in time for the Kathina ceremony in 1997.

The Chinese devotees requested for "Ordinary" membership at the AGM in 1997. This was considered to have important implications which necessitated the setting up a Board of Trustees comprising exclusively of Sinhalese. The Board of Trustees was to comprise of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 7 Sinhalese Buddhist members. A proposal was made to amend the bye-laws to include the Trusteeship clause. The opening up of membership to all devotees would result in the Sinhalese becoming a minority group who would eventually be replaced from office. Although this would be an inevitable consequence, the following traditions of the Temple would have to be conserved so as to maintain the identity of the Temple as a Buddhist Temple with a 'Sri Lankan Character and Origin'. To ensure this:

• The name of the temple and association should not be changed.
• All Sinhalese who are citizens of Malaysia shall be eligible to be ordinary members of the Association.
• The incumbent monk/monks of the temple shall be appointed by the Chief High Priest of Malaysia of the Sri Lankan Chapter.
• No objects, images or structures not pertaining to Buddhism should be built or erected on the Temple grounds and similarly no sacred objects, images or structures may be removed or demolished.

Finally, at the 37th AGM on August 15 1999 membership was fully opened to all races. The Secretary welcomed the 22 Associate members who had become Ordinary Members of the Association. At this AGM, the house was unanimously in favour of the amendment to the bye-laws to allow non-Sinhalese as office bearers in the Committee. They were approved in writing by the Board of Trustees and by the Registrar of Societies in 1999. In the committee of 1999, the elected office bearers included 10 Chinese, 1 Sinhalese and 1 Tamil with the President being a Chinese devotee.

Since then the office bearers and committee members of Taiping Bodi Langka Ram Buddhist Association have predominantly been Chinese and this remains the case till this date. (unfinished)

Ven. K. Mangala

Ven. M. Sumangala

Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda