Vene Dr. T Dhammaratana Ven. Dr. Tampalawela Dhammaratana, B.A, M.A, M.Phil, Ph.D, was born in Sri Lanka and ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1968. He studied at the Universities of Kelaniya, Paris, and Sorbonne, becoming proficient in Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhalese and French, and received his Ph.D degree from the University of Sorbonne- Paris IV, France in 1994. He also received a title of Doctor Honoris Causa from Mahachulalangkornrajavidyalaya University in 2009. He is a Consultant to the Divisions of Philosophy and Ethics and Cultural Pluralism and Intercultural Dialogue at UNESCO, since 1999. Dr. Dhammaratana is Hon. President of French Buddhist Union, Vice-President of World Fellowship of Buddhists in France, and President of International Council for Buddhist Development in Sri Lanka and President of Buddhist Humanities Action in France. He was the Copy-Editor of History of Humanity Vol. VI-VII published by UNESCO and author of number of scientific research articles on Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism published in English and in French.