 Gnanananda became a monk at age 17 on 26 March 1979 under Dambagasare Sumedhankara Thero and Dikwelle Pannananda Thero at Seruwavila.He received a traditional Buddhist academic education and entered the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.He founded Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery in August 1999 in Waduwava, Polgahawela.