1815 : Kandyan Convention - උඩරට ගිවිසුම

The Kandyan Convention was an agreement signed on the 02nd of March 1815 between the British and the Chiefs of the Kandyan Kingdom, in Sri Lanka for the deposition of rule King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. The king who was of South Indian ancestry faced powerful opposition from the Sinhalese chieftains who sought to reduce his power. A successful coup was organized by the Sinhala chieftains in which they accepted the British crown as their...

Read More

The progressive era of Udarata

Main characteristics of the epoch. Konappu Bandara’s (also known as Wijesundara Bandara) triumph over Udarata in 1592, immediately following the death of Yamasinghe Bandara who had received the kingdom under the patronage and the aid of the Portuguese was an event which marked a new era both in the history of the kingdom and the history of Sri Lanka as a whole. Only when the way in which history evolved is closely examined in...

Read More

"Kalikala Sahitya Sarvagna Pandita", king Parakramabahu II of ancient Dambadeniya.

Literature and education is not something distinctive for professional artists or writers. In this regard, the well-read, king Parakramabahu II of Dambadeniya is the best affirmation, who was bestowed the honorary title of "Kalikala Sahitya Sarvagna Pandita". Inevitably, the term ‘panditha’ implies that king Parakramabahu was well learned while the term ‘sahithya’ bring in to light his inclination to literature.  He succeeded...

Read More

King Mahasen, an embodiment of both merit and demerit.

Bad company leads anyone in the wrong path regardless of his or her position, gender, and age. It is common both to an ordinary man and even to a king. If it was a king who was led astray, it endangers a whole community. This is not something peculiar for Sri Lanka, even king Ajasath of India caused patricide following the instructions and guidance of Devadaththa, who despite being a bhikkhu had a growing hostility for king Bimbisara. Similarly,...

Read More

"Mind of Virtue and an Ocean of Gems" - King Buddhadasa of Anuradhapura kingdom.

It is worthwhile to throw some light on an ancient king of Sri Lanka, who is described as a "Mind of Virtue and an Ocean of Gems" in the Mahavamsa. Buddhadasa was a King of Anuradhapura, whose reign lasted from 341 to 370 AD. He was preceded by his father Jettha Tissa and was succeeded by his son Upatissa. King Buddhadasa is mentioned in the Mahavamsa as a house for compassion. His rule was marked by the philosophy of Dasarajadharma imposed...

Read More

The invasion of Kalinga Magha and the fall of the Polonnaruwa kingdom.

 It is commonplace that the disunity among the natives inevitably makes a state vulnerable, as it keeps them occupied in their internal struggles which has the result of drawing their attention from possible external conquests. A similar event occurred in ancient Sri Lanka, to be more specific, during the Polonnaruwa kingdom. Sri Lanka was marked by the Kalinga Magha invasion in 1215 AD which led to the fall of the Polonnaruwa kingdom...

Read More

Ancient Ruhuna as a base for the resistance movements and as a place of refuge.

Every action has a counter reaction which is equally strong and opposite. Similarly, in ancient Sri Lanka especially during the Anuradhapura kingdom Ruhuna remained to be the area from where counter reactions against the occupation of foreign invaders were much heard. Magama is known to be the capital of Ruhuna encompassing the present Thissamaharama territory. Ruhuna holds its importance not for a single reason. Conversely, Ruhuna took...

Read More

The monarch as the cause for the success or failure of ancient Anuradhapura kingdom.

The respective reigns of king Mahinda IV and Mahinda V who was also known by the name of Mihindu V are the best example as to how being a strong, and a considerate ruler can be resulted in the independence of the state and its prosperity while on the other hand, how being a fragile ruler with a backward conduct can lead the kingdom towards destruction and make an object of subordination to an outside power. In ancient Sri Lanka where...

Read More

The heroic role of the Buddhist monastic community as the protector of both the monarch and the Buddha Sasana in ancient Sri Lanka.

In ancient Sri Lanka, especially during the Anuradhapura kingdom period Buddhism formed an important portion of the responsibilities of the monarch. This is particularly due to inseparable connection maintained between the ruler and the Buddhist monastic community which has its roots back to the period of king Devanampiyathissa. It was the duty of the monarch to preserve Buddha Sasana under any circumstance. What was characteristic...

Read More

A fair appreciation to the contribution of king Kavanthissa in the rescue mission of king Dutugamunu.

History holds true both the successes and the failures of various attempts made by the rulers either to gain more power or to save the limited territory from the subordination to an external invader. By the very sense of the word, the war undertaken by Dutugamunu against the south Indian invader Elara can be fairly introduced as a rescue mission. More importantly this is due to two significant reasons which made Dutugamunu’s reign...

Read More

Why it remains difficult to determine whether Elara was a pious king or not?

Sri Lanka has undergone foreign invasions even from Anuradhapura period as revealed by historical chronicles such as Mahavamsa. Amongst these, the invasion of Elara (from 205-161 BCE) which took place during the reign of king Asela resulted in subjugating Rajarata and remained so during the reigns of Kawanthissa and Dutugamunu during which periods the sovereignty of Sri Lanka was no longer found. Despite the South Indian origin and...

Read More