T. B. Tennakoon who was born on 12th March, 1912 in the age of Pathadumbara, was a child gifted with talent for poetry from his young days. His farther, L. M. Tennakoon who lived in Pathadumbara area was a popular poet of his time who practised Indigenous Medicine and Astrology and was as a learned man of respect in the village. The young child who inherited the talent of his father at a very young age had well expressed his inborn talent and skill in field of dance, Songs and Poetry.
He had his early education at the Gunnepana Vidyalaya and joined Pushpadana Vidyalaya to further his education. However, he was not fortunate to continue his education, as he lost his Patents. Consequently being unable to further his education, he joined the Railway Department first, later, he joined the Printing Press `Sirisara' at Kandy, and had been working for sometime. In the Year 1934, he started his own wing Press and thus entered an independent life.
He had imbibed both Poetry and Art as life satisfaction. Whatever he was engaged at, writing poems was a must for him. He made use of every occasion and opportunity to enhance his talents and by the age of 22, he excelled to be the Poet of the Local Area.
Writing Poems and verses, publishing short Poem books Reading out the Poetry verses in the presence of people in exhilarating manner were the dominating aspects of his life. Truly, T. B. Tennakoon was a person who lived as a poet with fame. It was this very reason that he could start a Printing Press of his own in 1934 with the blessings and support of the people of Kandy and this can be deemed to bet he milestone in his life. A Monthly Magazine named "Honda Hitha (Good Heart) was published, and the "Young Poets Guild Kandy" was established by him. All these were possible due to aforesaid background. Along these lines he pioneered the birth of "Own Language Front" . "Kandy Education Front" and "Philanthropists Society", and this led to the development of Language and Literature in the Kandy area.
The foremost among those literary creations by T. B. Tennakoon are " Ruwanweli Maha Sea Varnanaya" (Narration of Ruwanweli Maha Seya), "Sri Gouthama Vama Dalada Vandanava" (Pilgrimage of Sri Gouthama left tooth Relic), "Ruwanveli Vandanava" (Ruwanweli Pilgrimage) a the poetry Book known as "Vessanthara Sinduwa" (“Vessanthara Songs).
In the Near 1946, he contested the Deiyannawala seat of the Kandy Municipal Council and entered Politics. He was elected to Parliament in 1956 and remained Municipal member until 1965.
When Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike declared of his intent, to establish the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in 1951, Mr T. B. Tennakoon was considered important and was invited to join the new party. He was a popular and a pioneer member of the S.L.F.P. In 1956, he contested the Dambulla seat, representing the 'Mahajana Pksaha Peramuna' party. He had a great victory in this election and retained his seat for Dambulla, undefeated until 1977. It is important to note that there were only 13 members of Parliament (MPs’) who were successful in retaining their seats through all general elections held from 1956 to 1977, and T. B. Tennakoon was one of them.