1. Dhátusena.-A householder of Nandivápigáma, father of Dáthánáma. Cv.xxxviii.14.
2. Dhátusena.-King of Ceylon (460-78 A.C.). He was the son of Dáthánáma and brother of Silátissabodhi. He seems to have had another brother, Kumárasena (q.v.). Dhátusena belonged to the Morjyavamsa. He became a monk under his uncle, the incumbent of Díghasandasenápati-parivena, and remained with him till preparations for his campaign were made. Then he returned to the lay life, killed the Pándyan, Tiritara, then reigning at Anurádhapura, and became king. His chief work was the construction of the Kálavápi, which he carried out by damming the Gonanadí. He built eighteen viháras and eighteen tanks. He showed great favour to the monks and did many works of piety. The Ambatthala-vihára he gave to the Dhammarucikas.
He had two sons - Moggallána and Kassapa. Kassapa rebelled against his father at the instigation of his brother-in-law-who had been punished for ill-treating the king's daughter - and seized Dhátusena in the hope of securing his treasure. The king asked to be taken to Kálavápi, saw the Thera who had been his teacher, and announced that his whole treasure was the Kálavápi. Kassapa then had him buried alive.
Among Dhátusena's gifts is mentioned that of one thousand gold pieces spent by him for an interpretation (?) of the Dípavamsa (dípetum Dípavamsam). Cv.xxxviii.14f, 30ff.
3. Dhátusena.-A vihára. See Uttaradhátusena.