Gangodawila Soma Thero was known as Weeratunga Arachchige Don Somaratne (W.A.D. Somaratne) in lay life.
The eldest son of Weeratunga Arachchige Don Dharmadasa and Hettige Dona Charlotte, he had four younger siblings: two sisters and two brothers, one of whom passed away while yet young.
Somaratne lived in a village called Gangodawila, at first the family resided in a street known as Tonic Mill Road, close to the Delkanda junction off Old Kesbewa Road. Later moving to a residence in Josswell Place close to Mirihana.
Little Somaratne’s first reading of letters was done by the chief Incumbent of the Gangodawila Subhadrarama Temple, Venerable Borukgamuwe Devamittha Nayake Thero.
He commenced his education at Rewatha College in Gangodawila, moving to Ananda Sastralaya in Kotte and completed his education at Isipatana College in Colombo. While studying at Isipatana College, Somaratne also showed a keen interest in cricket and rugby.
He first studied Buddhism at the Sri Rewatha Dhamma School affiliated to the Subhadrarama Temple. He next attended the Sri Rohana Dhamma School in Mirihana and later entered the Dhamma School at the Vajirarama in Bambalapitiya where he was able to study Buddhist philosophy, history of the Buddha Sasana and Abidhamma (the deeper concepts of the Dhamma or higher doctrine).
While Somaratne was studying at the Dhamma School in Vajirarama, he associated Venerable Nuwara Eliye Wimalatissa Thero, who had started an association called the “Tissa Bosath Children’s Society”. Becoming an active member of this group Somaratne was able to engage in many national, social and religious activities.
Having completed his school education, Somaratne had no inclination to go on to tertiary studies, as the eldest child, opting instead to help his father shoulder the burden of looking after the family. He began helping a friend with his business enterprises, later, opening his own small shop in the Mirihana area. While engaged in business as his livelihood, Somaratne continued to attend the Dhamma School at Vajirarama. He not only taught the Dhamma, he was also a keen student of Abidhamma, the higher doctrine, studying the different states of the mind (Chitta) in depth. As a result of gaining this knowledge Somaratne began to contemplate leaving the lay life and entering the sasana.
As an outcome of the great merit he had accumulated in past lives, young Somaratne was fortunate to enjoy the benevolence of many Mahanayake Theros. He used these opportunities to increase his knowledge of the Dhamma and arrive at solutions to the questions he had on various concepts of the doctrine.
Once when the young man was engaged in a discussion, Venerable Sri Rahula Thero looked at the lines on his palm of his right hand and asked him if he would like to be ordained. This question was the catalyst that made Somaratne act upon the idea of entering the ordained life that had been working in his mind for some time.
Although he had decided he would leave the lay life and become ordained, his parents did not look too kindly on the idea. In spite of this, his strong determination together and the arguments he put forward with reasoned facts to show them the importance of his decision, enabled him to overcome their objections and receive their blessings to become ordained.
Accordingly, on the 21st of July 1974, he left the home life. Entering the Dharmayathanaya in Maharagama, he resided there as an observer of the eight precepts, following the traditional practices and rituals and studying the Tripitaka.
On the 20th of September 1974, at an auspicious time, he became ordained as Gangodawila Soma Thero.
Venerable Soma first arrived in Australia in 1987 on the invitation of a group of devotees. He resided for a period of three months at the Buddhist Temple in Richmond. Noting that Mahayana practices had a strong foothold in Australia he realised there was an urgent need for a Buddhist temple where correct Theravada practices could be followed.
During this time, Soma Thera also helped establish a Sinhala and Dhamma School in Brunswick. Today there are nearly 600 students enrolled at this school.
After seven years in Australia, Soma Thera returned to Sri Lanka in 1996, intending to stay for a short time, while his father recovered from a stroke he had suffered, and also to revitalise his spiritual development. The stay was extended when his father became more gravely ill, and his presence was needed to comfort his mother who was also in frail health.
Venerable Soma returned to Australia on a short visit, where he launched a campaign to raise funds for the reconstruction of several tanks used for agricultural irrigation so that the villages in those areas could continue to engage in their traditional agricultural pursuits for their livelihood and for their own consumption. He organised the monks living in those rural villages to interact more closely with the villagers to help and sustain them spiritually.
After a short stay in Melbourne, Soma Thera returned to Sri Lanka. He was appalled to observe the degeneration of society, where alcoholism was rife and traditional Buddhist values were slowly being eroded. He immediately commenced a campaign to show the nation the ultimate outcome of these excesses, working with the youth and younger generation to alert them to the depravities of alcoholism.
He also began a campaign to turn Buddhists away from the worship of Hindu Deities, that had increased greatly at that time, especially with a Hindu Kovil being an integral part of a Buddhist temple. He also campaigned against the worship of Sai Baba.
Death
Venerable Gangodawila Soma Thera of the Vajiraramaya Maharagama passed away in St. Petersburg, Russia on 12 December 2003 in his 56th year. He was in Russia to accept an honorary doctorate conferred by the Russian Government. He was rushed to a hospital in St Petersburg after a heart attack. He underwent two emergency operations.
Sri Lankans were shocked and saddened by his death. The circumstances of his demise aroused suspicion. Some accused Christian Fundamentalists of orchestrating his demise. Special Presidential Commission appointed to inquire and investigate into this tragedy by President of Sri Lanka.