King Tissa of Ceylon was a contemporary of Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor of India. He modelled himself on Ashoka and his policies of non-violence and religious tolerance.

Historical Background:
- Tissa was the third king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom in Ceylon.
- He ruled from 307 BC to 267 BC, during the same period as Ashoka's reign in India.
- At that time, Ceylon was divided into several small kingdoms, and Anuradhapura was one of them.

King Tissa's Policies:
- Tissa was inspired by Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism and his policy of non-violence.
- He embraced Buddhism and made it the state religion of Ceylon.
- He built several Buddhist temples and monasteries, including the famous Mahavihara monastery.
- Tissa also encouraged the spread of Buddhism to other countries, including Burma and Thailand.
- He fostered religious tolerance and allowed other religions to coexist with Buddhism.

Comparison with Ashoka:
- Tissa's policies were similar to Ashoka's policies of non-violence, religious tolerance, and support for Buddhism.
- Both kings were contemporaries and communicated with each other through emissaries.
- However, Tissa's influence was limited to Ceylon, while Ashoka's influence extended to most of the Indian subcontinent.

Conclusion:
- King Tissa of Ceylon modelled himself on Ashoka and his policies of non-violence, religious tolerance, and support for Buddhism.
- Tissa's reign was a period of peace and prosperity in Ceylon, and his policies had a lasting impact on the country's culture and religion.