Podi Hamuduruwo: Born to Lead

The name Podi Hamuduruwo evokes a sense of fondness towards its bearer, and it was rightly so with Venerable Galboda Gnanissara, the former chief incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya Colombo, who passed away in August.

- Jennifer Paldano Goonewardane

He was an embodiment of courage, kindness, and benevolence. For BT Options and Business Today, he was an ever-present friend, cheerleader, helper, and advisor. With an attitude of 'never say never', Venerable Gnanissara spoke the language of religion and business with equal fluency and candor. He was a friend of the people, both great and small. He loved the underprivileged. He was a great proponent of Sri Lanka's business community. He leaves a legacy of committed stewardship in harnessing the potential of Sri Lankans, youth, farmers, women, and entrepreneurs.

Known for his effervescent personality, he was a man whose voice was heard on matters of national importance. But most of all, he was a humanist who treated everyone alike, a man to whom religion and ethnicity didn't matter in making friends; his benevolence knew no limits. Podi Hamuduruwo was, in his lifetime, a larger-than-life personality on the national stage.

He was fondly known as Podi Hamudurowo, but he was no small man. It was as if everything was possible with him. His voice and personality were mainstream for a very long time. He was popular and famous at the same time. He was not the typical temple-bound monk but a clergyman out and about, determined to impact society in his lifetime. Gung-ho and radiant, Podi Hamuduruwo was a force to reckon with who filled the room with his immense personality.

BT Options has a special place for Venerable Galboda Gnanissara. It's a story of how a friendship began in 1989 when our paths crossed out of necessity. As the creator of the Navam Maha Perahera of the Gangaramaya Temple, Podi Hamuduruwo, like all his undertakings, ensured that it rose to prominence, investing in making it a grand affair in Colombo.