The writer Bhikku Dhammavihari (Prof. Jotiya Dhirasekera) took to the life of a Buddhist monk at the age of sixtynine on May 18,1990. At the time of his retirement he was the Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya. His last University teaching assignment was as the Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Toronto.