Prominent Buddhist monk Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera has been admitted to hospital with serious injuries after being attacked by an elephant at his own temple. 

The elephant named Miyan Kumar, which attacked Wimlarathana Thera, had been kept at the Bellanwila temple for many years to be used for cultural events. 

According to sources, the Thera had been attacked  when he attempted to feed the animal this morning. 

Wimalaratana Thera is the incumbent of Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara and the President of the Bellanwila Community Development Foundation. He is also the Anunayake of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha of the Syamapali Maha Nikaya, one of the three sects of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

He also holds the Chancellor position of the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura