Anagarika Dharmapala was born as Don David Hewawitharana in 1873. He joined S.T.C. in 1878. The records quotes that Rev Miller who was the warden at that time loved him for his truthfulness.

After leaving college in 1883 he joined the Theosophical Society & worked with Col. Henry Steele Olcott & Madam Blavatsky, for the betterment of Buddhism in Ceylon. In 1883 he abandoned the life of laity    & changed his name to Anagarika Dharmapala. He also started the Newspapers “The Buddhist” & “Sinhala Bauddhaya”.

Anagarika Dharmapala founded the Maha Bodhi Society in India with the vision of regaining the rights for a Buddhist to worship holy places. He was also recognised internationally for the propagation of Buddhism in India, Japan, U.S.A  & Europe.

In1893 he was invited to address the members of the Parliament of Religions in Chicago & to give lectures in universities on Buddhism & psychology.

Anagarika Dharmapala got ordained as a monk in 1931 & gained higher ordination in 1933. He who is the only Thomian Buddhist monk passed away in 1933.

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