Venerable Panadure Chandaratana Thero
A Life Dedicated to Dhamma, Mindfulness, and Technology
Born on April, 1972, in Sri Lanka, Venerable Panadure Chandaratana Thero has uniquely bridged the worlds of science and spirituality. With an early academic background in engineering and computer science, he built a successful career in the technology sector before taking monastic vows and devoting his life to meditation and Dhamma teaching.
His educational journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (1998) from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, followed by a Master of Science in Computer Science (2008) from the same institution. His early professional career spanned work in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and the USA, where he held roles from Software Engineer to Chief Technology Officer in fields such as Building Automation Systems, Laser Control Systems, and Digital Image Processing. He also contributed to academia as a visiting lecturer at both the University of Moratuwa and the University of Ruhuna.
In 2008, he ordained as a Buddhist monk at Na Uyana Forest Monastery under the guidance of the Most Venerable Na Uyane Ariyadhamma Mahā Thero. Over the next six years, he engaged in rigorous training in both Samatha and Vipassanā meditation under revered teachers including Most Venerable A. Ariyananda Mahā Thero and Venerable S. Ñāṇasiri Thero.
His dedication to meditation practice and teaching continued to grow. In 2012, he began conducting weekly meditation sessions at Nandaka Vihara in Penang, Malaysia, and supported Dhamma translation work during Mahā Thero Ariyadhamma’s visits. In 2014, he participated in a retreat led by Sayadaw U. Paṇḍita of Panditarāma in Myanmar, deepening his experiential insight into Vipassanā meditation. Upon returning to Sri Lanka in 2015, he took residence at Nissarana Vanaya Forest Monastery, where he has been practicing under the Most Venerable U. Dhammajiva Mahā Thero and now serves as Deputy Abbot since 2017.
Venerable Chandaratana’s dhamma practice further enhanced by teachings of Most Venerable Matara Srī Ñāṇārāma, Most Venerable Katukurunde Ñāṇananda, Sayadaw U. Paṇḍita, Ajahn Sumedho, and Venerable Bhikkhu Analayo. His teaching activities include leading regular meditation retreats at prominent Sri Lankan centers such as Nissarana Vanaya, Kalalgoda, Colombo, Thalawathugoda, and Battaramulla since 2016. He has also conducted overseas retreats in Australia (2018, 2019, 2023, 2024), Singapore (2024), and the United Kingdom (2025).
He holds a Master of Arts in Buddhist Counselling from the University of Kelaniya (2022) and is currently pursuing a PhD at the same university.
In addition to his teaching, Venerable Chandaratana has published several books in both Sinhala and English, covering key meditative texts such as the Ānāpānasati Sutta and Satipaṭṭhāna. His works are available for free through the Nissarana Vanaya website and the Vipassana Fellowship UK.
His teachings—delivered through retreats, Sunday sermons, and youth programs—are also widely accessible on YouTube and other online platforms. Fluent in both Sinhalese and English, he continues to inspire a global audience seeking clarity, insight, and peace through the Dhamma.
In all these endeavors, Venerable Panadure Chandaratana Thero exemplifies a rare fusion of contemplative depth, modern knowledge, and compassionate service.