He was born to a Radala family of courtiers, his father Ratwatte Loku Nilame Adigar, mother Meegastenne Amunugama Medduma Kumarihamy . His paternal grand father Panditha Wahala Mudiyanse Ralahamy Ratwatte.
Royal and government service
He joined the Royal court as part of the Royal household. Ratwatte was appointed Dissawa of Matale in 1815. In this capacity he signed the Kandyan Convention as one of the Chiefs of the Kingdom of Kandy. He held this post during the Uva Rebellion until 1824. In 1825 he was appointed to the post of 2nd Adigar and the year before through a proclamation his ancestral lands were exempted from tax.
Family
He married, Abeykoon Amunugama kumarihamy, their grandsons were Seneviratne Nilame Ratwatte & Abeyratne Ratwatte.