An election by secret vote was held on November 27, 1955, at Vajiraramaya, Bambalapitiya, to select the Maha Nayaka (Great Chief) Thera to succeed Ven.

Madihe Pannasiha was elected as the Maha Nayaka Thera of the Amarapura Sri Dharmarakkhita Nikaya by a clear majority vote.

A few days after the appointment, Sir Cyril de Zoysa and R.Premadasa, the late President, an MMC Colombo at that time had called on the Maha Nayaka Thera individually and after conferring his good wishes had made a request which has come to effect and that was to incorporate all sects of the Amarapura Nikaya into one.

Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayaka Thera took up the issues such as taking over all assisted schools to the government and making all Poya days public holidays.

Thera visited Burma on January 4, 1954, and attended the Sixth Buddhist council, and in 1956 during the 2500 Buddha Jayantiya he took part in the establishment of a Seema Malaka.

Other places of his visit were England, West Indies, Scotland, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Maha Nayaka Thera played an important role in the rehabilitation of youths after the 1971 Insurrection.thurunu saviya has 10 groups for train the young.

Kalukondayawe Pangnasekera Maha Nayaka Thera as the president of the Sri Lanka Temperance Movement, to carry out the good work commenced during the early part of the 20th century.

Thero was conferred an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Peradeniya in 1987, and received the honorific title Agga Maha Pandita from Burma in the year 1996.