King of Sri Lanka (460-78 A.C.). He was the son of Dāṭhānāma and brother of Silātissabodhi. He seems to have had another brother, Kumārasena (q.v.) Dhātusena belonged to the Moriyavaṃsa. He became a monk under his uncle, the incumbent of Dīghasandasenāpati-pariveṇa, and remained with him until preparations for his campaign were made. Then he returned to the lay life, killed the Pāndyan, Tiritara, then reigning at Anurādhapura, and became king. His chief work was the construction of the Kālavāpi, which he carried out by damming the Goṇa- nadī. He built eighteen vihāras and eighteen tanks. He showed great favour to the monks and did many works of piety. The Ambatthala-vihāra he gave to the Dhammarucikā.

He had two sons — Moggallāna 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 Dhātusena in the hope of securing his treasure. The king asked to be taken to Kālavāpi, saw the Thera who had been his teacher, and announced that his whole treasure was the Kālavāpi. Kassapa then had him buried alive.

Among Dhātusena’s gifts is mentioned that of one thousand gold pieces spent by him for an interpretation (?) of the Dīpavaṃsa (dīpetuṃ Dīpavaṃsaṃ). Cv.xxxviii.14 f, 30 ff.