In Southeast Asia the bhikkhuni order had died out in ancient times, and Ven, Piyananda has been working very hard to get it re-established. As early as 1919 he tried to arrange for some Sri Lankan Dasasitmata to train for full ordination. Finally in 1986 an ordination of a samaneri (novice nun) was held at Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihata. For the first time after eleven hundred years, 10 Theravada bhikkhunis were ordained in Saranath, India in 1996 by Sri Lankan monks who were joined by Korean monks and nuns. The ordination was organized by the General Secretary of the Maha Bodlhi Society, the late Ven. Mapalagama Wipulasara Matra Thera and Ven. Walpola Piyananda Maha Thera. Since then, Dharma Vijaya has held ordinations of both samaneris (novices) and bhikkhunis here in Los Angeles.