Dhatusena of Anuradhapura

Who was Dhatusena of Anuradhapura?

Dhatusena was a king of Sri Lanka who ruled from 455 to 473 A.D. He was the first king of the royal Moriyan dynasty of Sri Lanka. In some records, he is also identified as Dasenkeli. Dhatusena reunited the country under his rule after twenty six years, defeating the South Indian invaders that were ruling the country at that time. Dhatusena made eighteen irrigation tanks, a large irrigation canal known as Yodha Ela, and the Avukana statue, a large statue of Lord Buddha.