Dr. P.A. Kiriwandeniya was born on the 14^th of November 1941 in the village of Kiriwandeniya in the district of Kegalle.

 His primary education was at Muwapitiya Kanishta Vidyalaya, Rambukkana.

 For his secondary education he attended Deliwala Maha Vidyalaya, Rambukkana, from where he gained admission to the Vidyodaya University at Sri Jayawardanepura and obtained a degree in Economics and History in 1965. While at the university he was an active member of the student movement.

 In 1966 he married Miss Biso Manike who was and still is a tower of strength to Dr.Kiriwandeniya as she is equally interested and committed to the upliftment of   the down trodden rural masses.

 He commenced his professional career in 1965 as a teacher at Susilodaya Piriwena, Dehiowita and continued to teach till 1972.

 In 1972 he joined the Sarvodaya Movement and till 1975 he worked as the Director of Education.

 From 1976- 1977 he was attached to the National Heritage Program as the Deputy Director.

 1978 was a milestone year for Dr.Kiriwandeniya when he commenced his SANASA Movement and up to-date he had been guiding the movement from strength to strength as the leader of the movement.

 With his vision and his pragmatic leadership qualities he has been very successful in forming the SANASA group consisting of  

·        SANASA Development Bank Ltd.

·        Federation of Thrift & Credit Cooperative Societies Ltd.

·        SANASA Education Campus

·        SANASA Insurance Company Ltd

·        SANASA Engineering and Development Co. Ltd. (SEDCO)

·        SANASA Consumer Producer Alliance Ltd. (SANEEPA)

  In 2005 President Rajapaksha recognizing the leadership qualities of Dr.Kiriwandeniya,  appointed him as the chairman of the People’s Bank.