He mastered the Sinhalese language during a tenure at Matara under the tutelage of the scholarly Buddhist Monk; Karathota Dhammarama Nayake Thera,[2] and for this proficiency, he was appointed as the Government's chief translator in 1805.

Being fluent in Sinhala, he was the intermediary between the British Governor Thomas Maitland and the disaffected Kandyan chiefs who were intriguing to "sell out" the king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.

His earlier association with a woman poet, Gajaman Nona, in Matara led to some speculation[citation needed].

His Obituary, from the Ceylon Gazette of May 29, 1824,[4] read: "Died, at Kandy on the 25th inst at 1 O' clock AM of Remittent Fever caught on an official tour in the Seven Korles, The Honorable Sir John D'Oyly Baronet, a Member of His Majesty's Council in Ceylon and Resident and First Commissioner of Government in the Kandyan Provinces.

at 7 O' clock the troops of the Garrison lining the road from the Palace to the burial ground resting on their arms reversed, while Minute Guns were fired by the Royal Artillery in the Castle, as the procession moved along in the following order; The Korales and Arachchies of the Udaratte The Band of the Ceylon Regiment, THE BODY, borne by twelve European Soldiers of the 45th Regiment, The Pall borne by six Field Officers and Captains of the Garrison Chaplain The Rev, N. Garstin, Medical Attendant Surgeon Armstrong Lt. Col. L. Greenwell, S. Sawyers, Esq, H. Wright, Esq, the Commissioners of the Board, as Chief Mourners.