Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- With hearts steeped in gratitude yet touched by loss, the Buddhist community of Malaysia bows low in honour of Brother Patrick Prematilaka K.D. Serisena, who took his leave peacefully on 7 April 2026 at the age of 67. A man of few words but boundless action, Brother Prematilaka was not one who sought the light of recognition - yet the light found him, because he carried it quietly within.

Born on 13 September 1958, Brother Prematilaka dedicated nearly five decades of his life to the Dhamma, not as a monk in robes, but as a lay guardian of the Sangha, the laity, and the bridge between them. For those who sat beside him in council meetings or shared a simple cup of tea after a temple event, his leadership was never loud. It was patient. It was sincere. It was the kind of gentle strength that holds a room together when voices rise - not by overpowering, but by listening until the right path emerged.

As President of the Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society (SAWS) of the Buddhist Maha Vihara (BMV), Brickfields, he poured decades of his life - from his youth until his final days - into one of Malaysia’s most cherished 130-year-old Buddhist institutions. Under his steady hand, BMV flourished not as a monument of stone, but as a living centre of Dhamma: Dhamma talks, retreats, Sunday School, youth camps, free publications, and exhibitions that opened the Buddha’s teachings to thousands.

But his service did not stop at the vihara gate. Brother Prematilaka carried the Buddha’s message of unity into the wider world. As President of the Malaysia Buddhist Consultative Council (MBCC) from 2023 to 2025, he wove together the many colours of Malaysian Buddhism - Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana - into a single strong cord, so that the Buddhist voice could be heard clearly and respectfully when engaging with the Government. He did not seek credit for this unity. He simply saw it as samma vayama - right effort.


Patrick was President of the Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Council (MBCC) from 2023 to 2025, a body which served as an umbrella organization for all Buddhists in Malaysia.

Beyond the Buddhist fold, his compassion reached across traditions. For eight years as Hon. Secretary General, and later as Hon. Treasurer General of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), he worked tirelessly to build harmony in a plural nation. He organised dialogues, harmony walks, and forums. Within Brickfields’ own “religious oasis” - where over twenty houses of worship stand side by side - he was a trusted neighbour and a quiet bridge-builder. He understood that interfaith work is not about erasing differences, but about walking together in respect.

In his younger years, Brother Prematilaka’s joy for culture found expression as Chairman of the Sinhala Cultural Dance Troupe and the Sasana Youth Section. He acted in dramas and plays, not for fame, but to plant seeds of Dhamma through art. Those who watched him then remember a man who could make you laugh deeply and reflect deeply - often in the same evening.

Brother Prematilaka now leaves behind his beloved wife, Helen Dodampé, his daughter Nadine Shimona, and his sisters Rohinee, Irenenie, and Vineeta K.D. Serisena - each of them, in their own way, carrying forward his legacy as selfless Dhammadutta volunteers. To them, the Buddhist community offers not only condolences but a promise: we will remember. And we will continue the work he laid down with such gentle hands.

We invite all who knew him - and even those who did not - to dedicate merits in his name. Chant the Anumodana, light a lamp, or simply sit in loving-kindness for one moment. For a man who gave without seeking, the greatest honour is to receive the Dhamma he offered and pass it forward.

May his journey in Samsara be short.
May he realise Nibbana soonest.

Sadhu. Sadhu. Sadhu.