Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana

Muhandiram Lansage Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (19 November 1809 – 24 January 1890) was a Sri Lankan businessman, a philanthropist, and a pioneer of the Buddhist revival movement.

[2] In 1880 the Buddhist Theosophical Society was founded, with Dharmagunawardena as its president, an office he held until his demise ten years later.

This was changed after Colonel Henry Steel Olcott made representations to Secretary of State for the Colonies in London on behalf of the Buddhists of Sri Lanka.

The British had not shown any interest in restoring the Vesak holiday which the Buddhists lost in 1770 during the Dutch rule.

[4] His ashes are interred on the grounds (donated by him) of the Vidyodaya Pirivena at Maligakanda.