Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayake Thero holds position of president Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka since August 2000, Chief Sangha Nayake of Japan, Chief Incumbent of Agrasravaka Maha Vihara, Colombo, Sri Lanka and Chetiyagiri Vihara Sanchi India. He is the founder of Lankaji Temple in Japan, the first Theravada temple in Japan, and holds the position of Chief Incumbent. He is the founder chairman of Yoshida Foundation, Sri Lanka, and established 20 nursery schools in Sri Lanka, one International School. He was the founder and General Council member of Sanchi University of Buddhist and Indic Studies, Sanchi India. He was born on 5th January 1950 in a remote village of Sri Lanka Banagala in Matara district. Mr. J.L.D Jayasena and Mrs. Ampagud Premawathi Liyange were the happy parents of the Upatissa who completed his primary education at Banagala Primary School. He was selected for sasana duty at the age of 12 with the advice of Ven. Seelarathana Nayake Thero who was his uncle and chief incumbent of Banagala Vihara. He was deputed by Mahabodhi Society to Sarnath India to study Dhamma under Ven. Metiwalla Sangharathana Maha Thero was one of the disciples of Anagarika Dharmapala. Ven. Thero was ordained on 19th October 1967 and higher ordination on 5th July 1970 by Sasana Kirti Chief Sanghanayake of India Ven. Hedigalle Pannatissa Nayake Thero.

In India, he completed his matric education at Mahabodhi Inter College, Sarnath, and higher secondary post-graduation from Bhopal University India. He obtained a diploma in Japanese language and a degree in child education from Japan. Being the ambassador of peace and harmony, he had regular interaction with world leaders, priests, scholars, religious gurus, and philanthropists. He had one-to-one meetings with His Holiness Pope, the President of India, the President of Iran, the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, and His Holiness Dalai Lama. He was invited to several Global Dhamma conferences and seminars. He attended Global Hindu- Buddhist Initiative, World Buddhist Forum, Dialogue on Vinaya, and Dhamma Dharma Conference.

He is more than a saffron monk. He is a complex personality immersed in several Socioeconomic organizations active in cultural and religious projects on micro-macro levels in Sri Lanka, India, and Japan. His memorable activities include the modern settlements for low-income people in the form of Mahabodhi Gama for 100 houses, Tsunami Gama 100 houses, Banagala Naritasan Gama 129, a three-story building at Visaka Vidyalaya Sapugaskanda, Rukmini Devi Memorial Art Theatre and Replica of Bamiyan Buddha at Peraliya, Hikkaduwa.

He was the first Buddhist scholar priest to visit Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Secretary-General, of the World Muslim League. For his Dhamma propagation, he traveled China, Malesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Iran, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and several European countries and participated in many conferences. During the civil war in SriLanka, he tried his level best to negotiate with Sri Lankan Government and LTTE leaders. His foremost success was republishing the Sinhala Baudhya paper started by Anagarika Dharmapala in 1906. At the age of 74, he is still active at a young age and fulfilling his Dhamma and social services to the nation.