The chief incumbent of the vihara was born in 1928. Ordained in 1941, he received his higher ordination in 1950. After obtaining his Royal Pundit degree followed with a bachelor's and a master's degree, he served as a teacher at the Central College, Polgahawela and Ananda College, Colombo, Sri Lanka for several years before proceeding to the United Kingdom on Buddhist missionary work in 1972. He came to New York in 1981, being appointed as the President of the American-Sri Lanka Buddhist Association, Inc. He is the founder and President of New York Buddhist Council, President of Sri Lanka Sangha Council, Vice president of the World Sangha council of north America, Executive Committee Member of the World Conference on Religion and Peace and a Faculty Member of the New School University in Manhattan, New York City. He has authored several books in Sinhala and in English. He conducts regular group discussions on Dhamma and meditation at the vihara.
Venerable Aluthgama Dhammajothi Thero is a Buddhist monk, born in Sri Lanka in March 1957. He was ordained as a novice monk in 1971 in accordance with the tradition, and practice of Theravada Buddhism in Kollura Sri Walagamba Rajamahaviharaya, Polgahawela, Sri Lanka. He received his higher ordination from Asgiriya Chapter in Kandy, Sri Lanka, He received his primary religious education and disciplinary training in Denagamuwa Pirivena, a Buddhist religious school in Polgahawela, and his secondary religious education in Chandrasela Pirivena , Potuhera, Sri Lanka. He was admitted to Colombo University in1981 and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree and he received a Diploma in Education in 1992. Before he visited to the USA he has worked as a teacher and also High school principle in Sri Lanka many years. In 1993 he was invited to New York Buddhist Viahara to serve as a resident monk Now he does the leading role in the activities of the New York Buddhist Vihara as the vice president.