Ven. Julampitiye Gnanaratana Nayake Maha Thera is the son of Mr and Mrs. D. J. Rajapaksha, of Udajulampitiya, Mulkirigala. He attended Ulhitiyawa mixed school for his elementary education and later joined the temple attached to the Purvarama Pirivena, Kirinda. He was ordained in 1962 under the tutelage of Ven. Katukurunde Sri Dhirananda Nayaka Thera, an erudite scholar monk who graced the Southern Province.

Ven. Aparekke Devananda and Ven. Getamanne Sri Piyaratne were the teachers who guided Ven. Gnanaratane at the initial stage. Ven. Gnanaratana completed seven years of Elementary Pirivena Education at Purvarama Pirivena and joined the Vidyalankara Maha Pirivena. He did very well at the Oriental Studies Society (Prachina) Examination and was successful in obtaining the Siamese Royal Prize.  

After passing the Final Examination he came back to the Purvarama Pirivena and served as an assistant teacher. Later Ven. Gnanaratana joined the Vidyalankara University, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and obtained BA Hons. Degree.

In the year 1980 he proceeded to Lucknow University and obtained the B.A. Degree in Hindi. On his return to the island he was appointed an Assistant Lecturer in Hindi at Vidyalankara University Sri Lanka. Ven. Gnanaratana returned to India in 1989 and obtained the PhD degree in Hindi from Lucknow University.

He later joined the Hindu University of Benares and obtained an MA in Pali. Later Ven. Gnanaratana turned his attention to these words of the Buddha. 'Charatha Bikkave' oh! Bhikkus go forth for the propagation of Dhamma." Ven Gnanaratana proceeded to the Buddhist Vihara in Birmingham, England. After two years at the Birmingham Vihara he returned to India. He was in search of a suitable place to reside to commence the propagation of the Dhamma. Fortunately he met Ven. Madabovita Soma Thera who was residing in Sankassa which is one of the important places associated with life of the Buddha. It was the most blessed place where the Buddha delivered the all important Vijam discourse to the deities including Buddha's mother who had been born in the world of deities. After delivering the "Vijam" he descended to earth where the present site of the Sankassa Vihara is and Ven. Gnanaratana rented a room at the pilgrims rest and continued the search for a place suitable for the intended vihara.

At this juncture he met Ven. Wijayasoma who willingly granted Ven. Gnanaratana a piece of land for the purpose and invited him to commence the work for the propagation of the Dhamma. His Dhammaduta work was enlivened by the close association of the late Ven. Metiwala Sangharatana Maha Thera the incumbent priest of Jetawanarama.

It must be mentioned here that Ven. Gnanaratana was ably assisted by Ven. Professor Kamburupitiye Sri Indaratana Nayaka Thera who put his heart and soul to improve the Vihara at Sankassa.

He allowed Ven. Gnanaratana to make use of the school premises which was under his care and made available all possible facilities for him to continue his work in propagating the Dhamma. Ven. Galagedera Pannananda Thera also assisted him.

Ven. Gnanaratana who commenced the work of Devāvarohana Maithree Buddha Vihara was able to complete the work on account of unfailing support of the Sri Lankan devotees. At present Sankassa Vihara has a complete pilgrims rest which is a great boon to the visiting pilgrims.

On account of the valuable services rendered by Ven. Gnanaratana towards the Buddha Sasana, the Executive Committee headed by the Maha Nayake of the Malwatta Chapter has conferred on him the tile, "Siri Sugata Dharmaduta Vibushana" along with the rare and unique title of the chief Sangha Nayake of the Bharata Desha (India).