Publisher: M. B. Uduman’s
The Maligakande Temple (Vidyodya Pirivena) was originally founded by Ven. Sangharaja Sri Saranankara, whose demise took place as far back as 1778 during the Dutch period of colonial rule. The land at Maligakanda (a suburb of Colombo) and funds for its foundation were donated by the philanthropist Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana. The Ven. Mohottiwatte Gunananda in 1873, following his success in the Panadura Debate, played a key role its development. His aim was to train educated orator monks to save Buddhism from the decline it was undergoing due to colonial rule, and for that purpose he made the study of logic compulsory in pirivena education. – Wikipedia-