He was popular as a pious monk who had delivered great service to both Buddhism and society in Sri Lanka.
He was born in the village of Maruddana as Dharmasena Ariyathilaka, in Kandy on 18 October 1939. his father was a businessman, Lamanige Jemis Sinho, and his mother, Pathirajage Gunavathi, were both from Harsipattuwa.
[2] Venerable Harispattuwe Ariyawanshalankara thero was also a philanthropist who had donated money he received for the benefit of the society rather than his own use.
The funeral was plainly held and even the money collected for the ceremony was used to construct a house for a needy family as the lastwill of thero before his death.
[3][4] He was also the chairman of Temperance Movement of Sri Lanka and has written several books on Buddhism.