Prof. A.D.T.E. Perera, an eminent scholar of Buddhist Art and Archaeology, was born on 1936 April 29 at Sarikkamulla, Panadura. His father was D.B. Perera, a planter and his mother was Perl Danthanarayana.
Perera had his primary and secondary school education at St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, and attended Sunday school (Daham Pasala) which was close to his house at Sri Taksala Vidyalaya. At this venue, Perera formed a close bond with a well-known archaeologist and scholar bhikkhu Ven. Medauyangoda Wemalakirthi Thera, who resided at a nearby temple, Sirinandana Pirivena. Perera was a good artist in his younger days. But he didn’t continue the interest on this subject.
University of Peradeniya
In the late 1950s, Perera gained entry to the University of Peradeniya. He studied Pali, Sanskrit and Buddhist philosophy for a Bachelor’s degree in Arts. He was in the last batch of students of Prof. Senarath Paranavitana, who served as the Professor of Archaeology at the University of Ceylon from 1957 to 1961. Upon leaving the university in 1962, Perera served as a teacher at the St. Sebastian’s College and Sri Taksala Vidyalaya for a short time. Thereafter, he worked as a Press Officer for a limited period and also as a Deputy Editor of the Ceylon Daily News, during the era of Esmond Wickremesinghe.
His scholarly interests in Buddhism led him to establish contact with Ven. Baddegama Wimalawansa Thera, then Head of the ‘Odey Pansala’ at Maradana also known as Sri Lanka Vidyalaya. He did some lecturing at this temple cum school. In the mid-1960s, Perera married Sujatha Perera, whom he had first met at the Sri Taksala Vidyalaya.
Encyclopaedia of Buddhism
During the late 1960s, Perera had a rapid rise in his career when he was appointed as an Assistant Editor of the Encyclopaedia of Buddhism with the approval of Prof. Gunapala Malalasekara who was the Chief Editor. The Office was based at the Peradeniya University. During the 1970s, A.D.T.E. Perera’s articles were published in English and Sinhala newspapers on topics relating to Archaeology and Buddhist Art.
He delivered lectures at the National Museum, the Royal Asiatic Society and the YMBA. He also took part in a Radio Ceylon program moderated by Lucien Bulathsinhala, a reputed playwright, author and stage drama producer. And also together with Alec Robertson (the well known Buddhist lay preacher) Perera delivered talks on Buddhism related subjects in English via Radio Ceylon. Perera’s writings dealt with concepts underlying Asanagara, Sandakada Pahana and the rock carvings at Isurumuniya and Sigiriya. He gained wide public attention with his pronouncements based on pioneering research that Sigiriya was built by the legendary King Ravana whose name finds mention in the Hindu Sanskrit epic ‘Ramayana’. Arthur C. Clarke, the world-renowned science fiction writer, upon reading the writings of A.D.T.E. Perera gathered some ideas from Perera for his popular television series ‘Mysterious World’. Their friendship continued since then.
Australian National University
In 1979, Perera travelled to Canberra, Australia with his family to pursue post-graduate studies at the Australian National University (ANU) under the supervision of Prof. A.L. Basham. He submitted his thesis entitled ‘Evolution of Buddha Image’. During his stay in Canberra, he delivered guest lectures at the Department of Asian Civilisations, ANU and attended several international conferences held in Australia. He also delivered lectures to the Sinhala community based in Canberra at ANU on Saturdays in 1979. He was also a part time teacher at the Canberra Grammar School in 1979.
In the early 1980s, upon returning to Sri Lanka, Perera participated in various International Conferences held in Nepal, India and Hong Kong.
Prof. Perera’s articles were regularly published in various international journals such as ‘East and West’ in Rome, ‘Studies in Indo – Asian Art and Culture, New Delhi, and Chissan, Tokyo, and also in magazines ‘The Buddhist’, ‘World Buddhism’, ‘journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Sri Lanka branch’ and newspapers e.g., Sunday Observer, Daily News, Island and Sinhala Newspapers.
In 1984, A.D.T.E. Perera co–founded the international Buddhist journal ‘World of Buddhism’ together with bhikkhu Ven. Mapalagama Wipulasara Maha Thera (1925 – 2000), who was both an Artist and Sculptor (primarily Buddha statues). He continued with the ‘World of Buddhism’ Journal as the Editor until his wife passed away in 2012. It was an indefatigable effort on his part to create Buddhist Opinion via this Journal.
He obtained his Master’s Degree from the University of Kelaniya and the DLitt degree (Doctor of Letters) from the Malwatte Chapter of the Siam Nikaya.
Perera also kept close contact with leaders of other religions. In the late 80s, he visited the Ambassador College, U.S.A, founded by Herman W. Armstrong, on the invitation of the late. Dr. Hoeh of California and delivered several lectures at this institution. In the 1990s, he also delivered several talks at the Sai Baba Center at Barnes Place, Colombo 7, and visited Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India, the ashram of Sri Sathya Sai Baba in 1992.
In the early 90s, A.D.T.E. Perera was appointed as an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico, USA, Department of Philosophy. There too he continued his scholarly work. He also attended as a Guest Research Fellow at the Department of Disarmament and Development, U.N.O, New York.
Upon returning to the island in the late 90s, he joined the Island newspaper as a Deputy Editor and in addition, he served as an Editor of the Sinhala Dictionary. There he prepared the ‘Etymological Sinhala English Dictionary’ with the collaboration of former Commissioner of Archaeology Dr. Saddhamangala Karunarathna (1979 – 1983). During mid 90s, Dr. Perera rendered a service to the Wesley College, Colombo for a short period.
In the 1990s, his path crossed that of the well-regarded scholar bhikkhu and the First Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna, Ven. (Prof.) Paravahara Pannananda Mahanayaka Thera, who resided at the Padanagara Viharaya, Maradana.
Buddhism in ancient Arabia and Israel
Thereafter, both scholars began to work and conduct research jointly on esoteric topics. Through intense research, they discovered that Buddhism was the earliest religion in the Arabian region. This finding caused a sensation in academia. In 2013, A.D.T.E. Perera’s book named ‘Buddhism in Ancient Arabia and Israel’ won the Buddhist literary award in 2014. It was later translated into Sinhala by Ven. Meerigama Gothama Thera at the Dharmendraramaya Temple, Mt. Lavinia.
Prof. Perera delivered monthly lectures under the auspices of the All Buddhist Congress of Democrats, (‘ABCD’) at several temples, in Bambalapitiya and elsewhere. In 2004 the Annual General Meeting of the ABCD was held at the J.R. Jayewardene Cultural Centre, Colombo 7, and awards were handed over to the eminent surgeon, Deshamanya Dr. P. R. Anthonis and Ven. (Dr.) Telagapatha Dammakirthi Thera, in recognition of their services to the wellbeing of the community.
German Dharmaduta Society
Prof. Perera also served as the Vice – President of the German Dharmaduta Society which maintains the Berlin Vihara in Germany and visited Mitirigala Nissarana Vanaya (all three institutions of which were founded by Asoka Weeraratna later known as Ven. Mitirigala Dhammanissanti Thera).
Prof. A.D.T.E. Perera spent his life-87 years (1936.4.29 – 2023.9.16) devoted to the cause of Sri Lanka and Buddhism. He supported the idea of Rata, Jathiya, Agama with great conviction. His services are unparalleled.
Dr. Harischandra Wijayathunga
