Sister Uppalavannā (Else Buchholtz) was a German violinist who converted to Buddhism, becoming the first European Buddhist nun since the time of Greco-Buddhism.

She led a carefree life, with all the comforts of German high society, and music, singing, dancing and horseback riding were an important part of her upbringing.

[3] Buchholtz determined to go to Sri Lanka to renounce worldly desires, since she felt that the country's Buddhism represented the original teachings of the Buddha.

[2] At first Sister Uppalavanna lived in a small thatched hut close to the Vajirarama monastery in Colombo and later in Weligama.

In 1938 she was invited by the Lay Committee of the Vihara Maha Devi Upasikaramaya nunnery to be chief nun.

[3] A group of admiring and devoted benefactors, prominent amongst whom were Mrs. H.M. Gunasekera, Mrs. Nalin Moonesinghe, Lady A.M. de Silva, Mr. William Samarasinghe, Mr. H. W. Amarasuriya and Sir Lalita Rajapakse saw to her meagre needs.

During the early 1950s she spent the 'vas' or rainy seasons at the Watawala Estate bungalow with Anil and Jeanne Moonesinghe.