Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero (born 1 July 1961) is the founder of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery. Gnanananda Thero was born in to the Roman Catholic family, parented by Cristy Kabraal and Violet Perera. The circumstances that followed his birth were 'miraculous', as the whole family became Buddhists just 6 months after his birth, going to the extent of giving up their main source of income: 'animal husbandry for meat' (a livelihood advised against by the Buddha). Opportunity for Buddhist education was therefore available for him from the childhood.