{"id":155971,"date":"2026-04-29T15:10:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T22:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=155971"},"modified":"2026-04-29T15:10:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T22:10:03","slug":"professor-y-karunadasa-the-renowned-sri-lankan-sinhalese-buddhist-scholar-and-philosopher-passed-away-on-april-26-2026-at-the-age-of-92-in-colombo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2026\/04\/29\/professor-y-karunadasa-the-renowned-sri-lankan-sinhalese-buddhist-scholar-and-philosopher-passed-away-on-april-26-2026-at-the-age-of-92-in-colombo\/","title":{"rendered":"Professor Y. Karunadasa, the renowned Sri Lankan (Sinhalese) Buddhist scholar and philosopher, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 92 in Colombo."},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><strong>Obituary<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>\u00a0<strong>KARUNADASA \u2013 PROF. EMERITUS Y. KARUNADASA<\/strong> <em>Sabbe sankh\u0101r\u0101 anicc\u0101\u201d <\/em>passed away peacefully on 27th April 2026. Dearly beloved husband of Malathi, loving father of Himansu and Hemamala, cherished father-in-law of Deepani and Srinivasan, adoring grandfather of Sirini, Daham and Athena. Remains lie at the <strong>Jayaratne Restpect Funeral Parlour<\/strong> from 8.30 a.m. on 29th April 2026 until the cort\u00e8ge leaves for the cemetery. Cremation will take place on Thursday, 30th April 2026 at 4.00 p.m. at the General Cemetery, Borella (Colombo). May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana. \u2013 Family\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 026767<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dailynews.lk\/2026\/04\/29\/obituaries\/986735\/obituaries-658\">https:\/\/dailynews.lk\/2026\/04\/29\/obituaries\/986735\/obituaries-658<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was a monumental figure in the field of Pali and Buddhist Studies, widely recognized for his rigorous analytical approach to early Buddhist philosophy and the Theravada Abhidhamma.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Academic Legacy and Career<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Professor Karunadasa&#8217;s career spanned several decades, during which he influenced generations of scholars worldwide:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>University of Kelaniya<\/strong>: Served as the <strong>Professor Emeritus<\/strong> of Pali and Buddhist Studies and was a former Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies (PGIPBS).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Appointments<\/strong>: Held prestigious positions as a visiting professor at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/renowned-buddhist-scholar-prof-y-karunadasa-has-died-at-92\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Hong Kong<\/a>, University of London, University of Toronto, and the University of Calgary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Honors<\/strong>: Awarded the honorary title of <strong>Sri Lanka Sikhamani<\/strong> by the Sri Lankan government in 2005 for his exceptional contributions to the nation&#8217;s academic landscape.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Significant Publications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His scholarship is defined by a deep engagement with primary Pali sources. Some of his most influential works include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em>The Buddhist Analysis of Matter<\/em><\/strong>: A seminal text examining material phenomena in Theravada thought.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Early Buddhist Teachings<\/em><\/strong>: An exploration of the &#8220;middle position&#8221; in theory and practice, often cited for its clarity on complex doctrines like dependent arising and non-self.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>The Theravada Abhidhamma<\/em><\/strong>: An inquiry into the nature of conditioned reality.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Professor Karunadasa is remembered by the global academic community for his intellectual depth and his ability to bridge traditional scholarship with modern philosophical inquiry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prof. Karunadasa was a towering figure in Buddhist studies\u2014a brilliant scholar, a compassionate teacher, and a true embodiment of the Dhamma he dedicated his life to studying and sharing,\u201d the University of Hong Kong\u2019s Centre of Buddhist Studies Alumni Association&nbsp;highlighted. Through his profound works on Early Buddhism and Theravada Abhidhamma, his insightful lectures at the Centre of Buddhist Studies, and his gentle wisdom, he inspired generations of students in Hong Kong and beyond&#8221;. (HKU Centre of Buddhist Studies Alumni Association Facebook)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prof. Karunadasa\u2019s notable publications include <em>The Theravada Abhidhamma: Its Inquiry into the Nature of Conditioned Reality<\/em>, <em>The Buddhist Analysis of Matter<\/em>, and <em>Early Buddhist Teachings \u2013 The Middle Position in Theory and Practice<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At HKU, Prof. Karunadasa taught at the Centre of Buddhist Studies (CBS) as the MaMa Charitable Foundation Visiting Professor. Following his passing, the HKU Centre of Buddhist Studies Alumni Association expressed their grief on social media, stating:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>It is with profound sorrow and a deep sense of loss that the Hong Kong University Centre of Buddhist Studies Alumni Association (HKU CBSAA) learned of the passing of our esteemed teacher, Professor Y. Karunadasa, on 26 April 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CBS alumnus Prof. Ujjwal Kumar, who heads the Department of Buddhist Studies at the University of Calcutta, India, remarked: He was an excellent teacher in my life, who offered a profound perspective on how to study and reflect upon Theravada Buddhism. I offer my heartfelt tribute of reverence. May he attain Nibbana.\u201d (Ujjwal Kumar Facebook)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Karunadasa held several esteemed administrative roles at the University of Kelaniya, serving twice as dean of the Faculty of Arts and once as dean of the Faculty of Humanities. As professor emeritus, he made significant contributions to the understanding of Buddhist philosophy, including analyses of Dhamma theory, the nature of matter, cognition, and the middle path between extremes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/002-db.jpeg\"><\/a>Prof. Yakupitiyage Karunadasa, 1934\u20132026. Image courtesy of Aosi Mak<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I first met Prof. Karunadasa as an undergraduate at the University of Kelaniya, where he was then Head of the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies,\u201d remarked Prof. G. A. Somaratne, a Sri Lankan scholar who is teaching at CBS. In the lecture hall he combined an astonishing command of Early Buddhism and Theravada Abhidhamma with clarity and gentleness. He did not merely expound texts; he opened for us a way of thinking\u2014disciplined, critical, and at the same time deeply grounded in the Dhamma.\u201d (G.a. Somaratne Facebook).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Amrita Nanda, a student and teaching assistant of Prof. Y. Karunadasa, who is also teaching at CBS, shared: Beyond his academic achievements, his humility and graciousness made him one of the most respected and loved professors in the field.\u201d (Amrita Nanda Facebook)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Born in Sri Lanka in 1934, Prof. Karunadasa graduated from the University of Ceylon in 1958, earning a First Class Honours Degree in Pali, which also garnered him the Woodward Prize and a research scholarship for his exceptional performance. He furthered his studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, where he became the inaugural recipient of a Postgraduate Studentship in Oriental Studies in 1960. He completed his PhD in Indian Philosophy in 1963, focusing his thesis on the Buddhist analysis of matter. In 1974, he was awarded a Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship at SOAS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prof. Karunadasa\u2019s publications, articles, and editorial contributions have significantly influenced ongoing discussions in Buddhist scholarship, particularly concerning contemporary issues such as Sri Lankan monastic politics. His critiques of political involvement have informed debates on sangha autonomy amidst ethnic conflicts and conversions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prof. Karunadasa\u2019s notable publications include <em>The Theravada Abhidhamma: Its Inquiry into the Nature of Conditioned Reality<\/em>, <em>The Buddhist Analysis of Matter<\/em>, and <em>Early Buddhist Teachings \u2013 The Middle Position in Theory and Practice<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At HKU, Prof. Karunadasa taught at the Centre of Buddhist Studies (CBS) as the MaMa Charitable Foundation Visiting Professor. Following his passing, the HKU Centre of Buddhist Studies Alumni Association expressed their grief on social media, stating:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>It is with profound sorrow and a deep sense of loss that the Hong Kong University Centre of Buddhist Studies Alumni Association (HKU CBSAA) learned of the passing of our esteemed teacher, Professor Y. Karunadasa, on 26 April 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CBS alumnus Prof. Ujjwal Kumar, who heads the Department of Buddhist Studies at the University of Calcutta, India, remarked: He was an excellent teacher in my life, who offered a profound perspective on how to study and reflect upon Theravada Buddhism. I offer my heartfelt tribute of reverence. May he attain Nibbana.\u201d (Ujjwal Kumar Facebook)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prof. Karunadasa held several esteemed administrative roles at the University of Kelaniya, serving twice as dean of the Faculty of Arts and once as dean of the Faculty of Humanities. As professor emeritus, he made significant contributions to the understanding of Buddhist philosophy, including analyses of Dhamma theory, the nature of matter, cognition, and the middle path between extremes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In recognition of his contributions, he received an honorary D&#8217;Litt from the University of Kelaniya in 2002 and was honoured with the title of Sri Lanka Sikhamani by the President of Sri Lanka in 2005 in acknowledgment of his significant contributions to his homeland. He also played a key role in co-founding the International Buddhist College in Thailand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-buddhistdoor-global wp-block-embed-buddhistdoor-global\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"8mL4aAhD0a\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/renowned-buddhist-scholar-prof-y-karunadasa-has-died-at-92\/\">Renowned Buddhist Scholar Prof. Y. Karunadasa Has Died at 92<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Renowned Buddhist Scholar Prof. Y. Karunadasa Has Died at 92&#8221; &#8212; Buddhistdoor Global\" src=\"https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/renowned-buddhist-scholar-prof-y-karunadasa-has-died-at-92\/embed\/#?secret=wYDBKuP8nA#?secret=8mL4aAhD0a\" data-secret=\"8mL4aAhD0a\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Obituary \u00a0KARUNADASA \u2013 PROF. EMERITUS Y. KARUNADASA Sabbe sankh\u0101r\u0101 anicc\u0101\u201d passed away peacefully on 27th April 2026. Dearly beloved husband of Malathi, loving father of Himansu and Hemamala, cherished father-in-law of Deepani and Srinivasan, adoring grandfather of Sirini, Daham and Athena. Remains lie at the Jayaratne Restpect Funeral Parlour from 8.30 a.m. on 29th April [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,165],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-155971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-buddhism","category-senaka-weeraratna"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155971"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":155972,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155971\/revisions\/155972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}