[12][13][14][15][16] Piyaratana Tissa Mahanayake Thero was the son of Don Margiris de Silva Weerasooriya.

[17] He was the chief monk (Viharadhipathy) at the Gothami Viharaya (Borella),[18] Shaila Bimbaramaya Temple in Dodanduwa , and Mangalaramaya (Beruwela).

[19] He established the first Buddhist School in Sri Lanka, Jinalabdhi Vishodaka, located within the premises of Sailabimbaramaya Temple in Dodanduwa.

(also some considered as it was the first Buddhist School in the world)[21] It was initially located inside the Sri Swarna Shaila Bimbaramaya Temple in Dodanduwa.

[23] Originally known as Jinalabdhi Vishodaka[3] ("in the love of Buddha"), it was subsequently re-named by Siridhamma Thero; his pupil, successor and the chief incumbent of the Temple, following Piyaratana's death.

[25][26][27][28][29] In 1880, Colonel Olcott and Madame Helena Blavatsky arrived at the Galle Harbour, and travelled to the Sailabimbaramaya Temple in Dodanduwa, where they met Piyaratana, to learn about the difficulties faced by Buddhists and their education.

Olcott wrote in his diary "Our first state was to Dodanduwa five miles off the seat of the Grand Vihara and Pansala of our friend Piyarathana Tissa Terunnanse, a Monk of erudition, energy and high character.

As a result of Piyarathana's efforts, he was conferred an honorary membership of the Theosophical Society, which was based in New York.

In 1878 the official document, Akthapatra, certifying his membership, was sent to Piyarathana, signed by Henry Steele Olcott, Helena Blavatsky and Alexander Wilder.

Piyarathana Tissa Therunnanse in recognition of distinguished merit - hath been elected a corresponding fellow by the Theosophical Society in witness whereof the society hath declared the issue of this diploma and its attestation by the hands of its President and Corresponding Secretary.