He is former teacher and well-known philanthropist of the area G. Jayasena Peiris, who was his closest friend from Ethumalpitiya School in Polonnaruwa in the 1960s.

At the time, Maithripala Sirisena was an Advanced Level student at Royal College, Polonnaruwa.

Their friendship was so deep that, that same A/L student was the best-man at teacher Jayasena’s wedding.

The retired teacher and social worker found the same level unchanged friendship from the now country’s first citizen.