Sumantiphāla Nahimi Senasun Arana,.
Heelbatgala Rd, Kanduboda, Delgoda, Sri Lanka
A new Meditation Centre has been opened in 2003 on the land right next to Kanduboda VMC. Lay
people can build "kutis" and have access to them for life. This might interest to those who may
want to meditate but not become a monk. Thirty "kutis" have been built already.
The head of the new centre is Ven. Pemasiri, a popular and experienced teacher in the Mahāsi
tradition who is helpful and friendly to foreigners. He used to stay in Kanduboda VMC and
then in Lanka Vipassana Centre. (See next entry.) Besides the Mahāsi method he also teaches
other traditional methods of meditation. The place is mainly for laypeople, but monks do visit
and stay here for limited periods. The female yogis and nuns have their own separate area.
The facilities are nice and spacious.
Approximately 20 kms E of Colombo. From the CTB Bus Station at Olcott Mawatha, Pettah,
take the 224 bus which stops outside the monastery; also the 207 bus from Gampaha goes
there. Some of the buses to Kirindiwela are passing near Kanduboda (but this is not a good
option, as they are infrequent).
Buddhism Transformed: Religious Change in Sri Lanka
"Kuti"
How To Get Here......
The centre is located at Kanduboda, 16 miles from Colombo and is easily accessible by bus route 224(Colombo/Pugoda) leaving from the central bus stand. from Colombo the bus trip takes 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The distance from the Katunayake International Airport to Kanduboda is longer with no direct bus connection. Taxi service is available from the airport (1 hour) or Colombo (1/2 hour). The information desk at the airport or the Tourist Board in Colombo can provide a schedule of taxi fares to be expected for this distance.
Siyane VMC or Kanduboda VMC.
Kanduboda, Delgoda.
Tel. 011-2445518; 011-2570306.
E-mail:
E-mail:
bhavanam@sltnet.lk or mupali@sltnet.lk
A meditation centre and monastery with a long tradition of offering meditation-instruction to
Westerners. Besides monks and nuns also lay meditators are welcome and some get
ordination here. The main teacher and head monk is Ven. Upāli, who is very experienced in
the Mahāsi tradition. Women have a separate, enclosed area, and ordination has sometimes
been given for western women (which may interest potential dasa-sīl-maenayos). A few large
buildings with rooms and some kuTis. It It is close to a small road and surrounded by coconut
plantations and a few village houses. The teaching is in the Mahāsi tradition. The vinaya is
reasonable. The daily schedule and discipline is more relaxed than in the Mahāsi centres in
Burma. More individual meditation than group meditation.
Kanduboda has more than 25 branches throughout the country.
Most are of no significance for westerners.
Lanka Vipassana Centre, IVMC.
108 Wijerāma Mawatha, Colombo 7.
Tel. 011-2694-100.
This is a branch of Kanduboda VMC. Ven. Pemasiri used to stay here, but moved to a new place
next to Kanduboda VMC in 2003 (see previous entry). The place has had many Western long-term monastic- and lay-residents and was also often visited by Western monks staying some days in Colombo for extending
visas etc. Good support, tidy, clean, quiet. In Colombo’s diplomatic quarter. Suitable place for
lay-people who like to meditate. Fairly quiet for Colombo standards. Women stay in a
separate wing.
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