"Sri Lankan scholar-monk. Born 1907， Sri Lanka. Educated privately. At 13 or 14， entered the Sangha.1936: entered Ceylon University College; gained PhD in 1950; 1930s: well-known preacher criticizing some popular Buddhist practices and publishing pamphlets; took special interest in social and economic matters; entered struggle for political freedom. 1950: to Sorbonne （Paris） on French government fellowship to do research on Mahayana Buddhism （esp. works of Asanga）. Worked with Paul Demieville of College de France; met Andre Bareau et al ... worked with Miss I.B. Horner for Pali Text society. Has lectured widely in the USA and Japan. Best known book: What the Buddha Taught."