Kandyan Era

After the death of King Parakramabahu the vi, Kandyans asserted their independence from Kotte.Portuguese arrived in the early 16th centaury, signifying the arrival of the Europeans.

They established a trading settlement in Colombo. By the year 1600, they converted some of the Sinhala royalty to Catholicism, and had a major control over the southwest coastal region.

By then Senarath (1604-1635), had established the kingdom of Kandy. His relationship with the Portuguese deteriorated in 1617 & his son Rajasinghe II also opposed the Portuguese, forming an alliance with the Dutch.

The Dutch alliance also broke down & they captured the eastern ports of the Kandyans.

The Dutch captured the forts, Colombo, Galle & Negombo. By then they had most of the regions of Sri Lanka under their rule. But Kandy maintained their independents.

The first British conquest took place during 1795-1796. They drove the Dutch out of the country & seized all the major ports. The Kandians grip of their own empire were weakening. They managed to beat back the first resistance by the British in 1803.

But eventually the British captured the hill country in 1815. The last of the Sri Lankan Kings were captured & in 1816 he was sent to be imprisoned in Wellor, India.



Famous Kings of Kandyan Era

Sena Sammatha Vickramabahu
(A.C.1469-11511)
Karaliyade Bandara
(A.C.1552-1582)
Vimaladarma Sooriya I
(A.C.1591-1604)
Rahasinghe II
(A.C.1635-1687)
Vimaladarma SooriyaII
(A.C.1687-1707)
Parakram Narendra
Singhe
(A.C.1707-1739)
Sri Vijaya Rajasinghe
(A.C.1739-1749)
Rajadi Rajasinghe
(A.c.1782-1798)
Sri Virama Rajasinghe
(A.C.1798-1815)

Sri Lanka remained in a instable situation during the 14th & the 15th centauries. King Parakramabahu vi (1415-1467), the last Sinhalese King managed to reestablish rule over the island. His power base was in Kotte.

In the later stages of his rule, Gampola was challenged and he appointed a prince of Gampola royal house as its administrator.

After the death of Parakramabahu, the island again plunged in to divisive struggle. Jaffna declared itself an independent Tamil kingdom under Pararajasekaram. (1497-1579)

The Dutch came to Sri Lanka in 1505, during the times of King Parakramabahu IX. The King made a pact with the Dutch as they were a powerful army than of the King's. The King grant permission to Dutch to build a small fortress in Colombo. The Dutch began it's missionary service in Sri Lanka and many some of the citizens were converted in to Catholicism.



Famous Kings of Kotte Era

Parakkramabahu VI
(A.C.1411-1467)
Jayaweera Parakkramabahu
(A.C.1467-1469)
Buwanekabahu VI
(A.C.1469-1477)
Panditha Parakkramabahu
(A.C.1477-1484)
Weera Parakkramabahu
(A.C.1484-1509)
Dharma Parakkramabahu
(A.C.1509-1518)
Vijayabahu VI
(A.C.1518-1521)
Buwanekabahu VII
(A.c.1521-1551)
Don Juwan Dharmapala
(A.C.1551-1597)

Gampola Era

Gampola was made as the capital city of the Island by the King Buwanekabahu the fourth, who ruled for 4 years in mid fourteenth century. The last king of Gampola was King Buwanekabahu the fifth. He ruled the Island for 29 years. A separate city was build in Kotte during this time by a noble known as Alagakkonara.

Among the remnants of Gampola era, the most famous temples are Lankathilaka, Gadaladeniya and Ambekka Dewalaya. The ancient stone scripts (Shila Lekhana) of Lankathilaka temple helps to reveal a considerable amount of vital information regarding the Gampola era. The statue of Buddha of the temple indicates style of south Indian arts. The Ambekka Dewalaya possess a large collection of wood carvings, where no other temple in Sri Lanka owns such a collection.

Kurunagala - 1293 - 1341

Kurunagala - 1293 - 1341

Kurunagala was a royal capital starting from Buvenekabhahu II (1293-1302). This was about half of century which is now clarified by ruins. among these ruins there are parts of temple of tooth relic. One of the caves discovered by modern archeologists, the cave hermitage of Arankele, indicates that ancient times in Kurunegala, in addition to buddhist monks there has been forest dwelling (called Thapowana) hermitages called Brahmi. In the area the inscriptions of ancient brahmi donatives has been found. In the Ridigama Vihara, a temple near to the cave hermitage of Arankele, there had been a silver orc which belongs to the time of King Dutugemunu.

In the temple a reclining Buddha statue is seated, which belongs to the 18 century. The temple is attracted by a door frame with ivory carvings and alters tilled with Dutch tiles and an artificial lake under the shadow of the hill

Yapahuwa Era

Yapahuwa was considered as strategically important point since the Polonnaruwa era. Prince Buwanekabahu, the son of great Parakramabahu who ruled in Dabadeniya, was stationed at Yapahuwa to protect the kingdom against enemy attacks.

When the Dabadeniya kingdom fall after the King Wijayabahu the 4th, The throne was taken by Prince Buwanekabahu, who ruled the kingdom from Yapahuwa. The sacred tooth Relic was brought from Dambadeniya to Yapahuwa and kept in the specially built palace. The ruins of this temple can be seen today and is considered one of the best archeologically valuable sites on the Island.

Polonnaruwa Era

Polonnaruwa Era

Polonnaruwa Era existed between AC 1065- 1120. The governing period of this time was about 186 years and 19 rulers had sat on the throne in that period. During the final period in the Anuradhapura era, the cholas shifted the political power to Polonnaruwa, which was situated in the eastern side of the dry zone. The main reason was security, as it was regarded as a strategic location to guard against an invasion from Ruhuna, the refuge of the Sinhalese liberation force.

Still the Cholas were unsuccessful in defending themselves against Vijayabahu�s offensive riot against Polonnaruwa. They Surrendered in 1070 and left the island.

Polonnaruwa had its own fabulous Buddhist architecture and irrigational network that had been built over the centauries by earlier sinhala rulers. (Ex- Minneria Tanks)
The First Sinhalese king to rule in this period was King Wijayabahu who ruled for 55 years after he defeated the cholas.(AC 1065-1120). He restoered Buddhism to its former glory and was also responsible for economic regeneration.

The Next famous King to take over from Vijayabahu is King Parakramabahu (AC 1164-1197) He unified the country under one rule and built a remarkable series of irrigation work including the massive Parakrama Samudraya.

Nissanka Malla was also a king to take notice of, because he also stabilized Sri Lanka during his period. But his death brought instability & a pirate named Magha, who came from south India conquered Polonnaruwa & executed many years of ruthless control over the island.



Famous Kings of Polonnaruwa Era

Agbo VII
(A.C.777-797)
Vijayabahu I
(A.C.1048-1054)
Vickramabahu I
(A.C.1110-1111)
Parakramabahu I
(A.C.1132-1153)
Vijayabahu II
(A.C.1153-1186)
Nissanka malla
(A.C.1187 -1187 6th day)
Veerabahu I
(A.C.1187-1196)
Vickramabahu II
(A.C.1196-1196 1 day)
Dharmashoka
(A.C.1208-1209)
Qeen Lilawathi
(A.C.1197-1200)
Kalinga Maga
(A.C.1215-1232)

Anuradhapura Era

Anuradhapura Kingdom was built by King Pandukabhya, son of Princess Unmada chithtra. The city was the first of it's kind with well designed sanitary system, Gardens, Irrigation and Water supply systems, Temples, cemeteries and burial grounds, etc. The city was then became the capital city of Sri Lanka and flourished under many subsequent Kings ruled for centuries.

Anuradhapura Kingdom was highly vulnerable to invasions from South India and suffered usurp of throne several times, by invading Kings from south India. Singhalese Kings have managed to defeat the invaders after reorganizing the troops, although the invading kings ruled in the mean time. One such historic battle held Between King Dutugamunu and South Indian King, Elara. In that, King Elara was defeated and King Dutugamunu ruled the country in single sovereignty.

The Anuradhapura Kingdom was under constant threat from south Indian kingdoms. The King Mahinda V ascended to throne in 982 A.C, and was the last Sinhalese king to rule the country from Glorious city. At this time the South Indian realm Chola, became very powerful under the Great Rajaraja (985- 1018 A.C) and conquered Sri Lanka. The King Mahinda was captured and imprisoned in South India.

The South Indians ruled the country for next 75 years. They shifted the Capital city to Polonnaruwa due to strategic reasons after considering the vulnerably for attacks from both native Sinhalese people and other south Indian Kingdoms.


Famous Kings of Anuradhapura Era

Pandukabaya
(B.C.437-367)
Devanampiyatissa
(B.C.307-267)
Ellara(B.C.205-161)
Dutugamunu
(B.C.161-137)
Walagamba(first time)
(B.C.103 3 months)
Walagamba
(B.C.89-77)
Mahasen
(A.C.273-301)
Dathusena
(A.c.455-473)
Mugalan(I)
(A.C.491-498)
Aggbo(I)
(A.C.571-604)
Kashayapa(II)
(A.C.650-659)

Sri Lanka Kings and Rulers

GREAT KING RAVANA 300 AD



Vijaya 543 BC Upathissa 505 BC
Panduwasdeva 504 BC Abhaya 474 BC
Pandukhabaya 437 BC Mutaseeva 367 BC
Devanam Piyathissa 307 BC Uththiya 267 BC

Mahasiva
257 BC Sooratissa 247 BC
Sena & Guthtika 237 BC Asela 215 BC
Elara 205 BC Dutugemunu 161 BC
Saddhatissa 137 BC Tullaththana 119 BC
Langitissa 119 BC Kallatanagha 109 BC

Walagambha (First Time)
103 BC Poolahaththa 103 BC
Bhabhiya 100 BC Panaya Mara 98 BC
Piliya Mara 91 BC Datiya 90 BC
Walagambha (Second Time) 89 BC Mahasilu Mahatissa 76 BC
Choranaga 62 BC Tissa-Kudatissa 50 BC
Queen Anula 47 BC Kutakanna Tissa 42 BC
Bathiya,Bathika Abeya Bathiya Tissa 20 BC Maha Daatiya Maha Nagha 09 AD
Amanda Gamini 21 AD Kanirajanu Tissa 30 AD
Choolabeya 33 AD Seevali Queen 35 AD
Ilanagha 35 AD Chandamukasiva 44 AD
Yasalalaka Tissa 52 AD Sobaraja 60 AD
Wasabha 66 AD Wankanasikatissa 110 AD
Gajaba 113 AD Bathiya Tissa II 141 AD
Kanittatissa 110 Ad Choolanaga 193 AD
Kunchanaga 195 AD Sirinaga 196 AD
Choharikatissa 215 Ad Abeyanagha 236 AD
Sirinagha II 244 AD Vijayakumara 246 AD
Sanghatissa 247 AD Sirisanghabodhi 251 AD

Gothabeya
253 AD Detutissa I 266 AD
Mahasen 276 AD Sirimevan 303 AD
Detutissa II 331 AD Buddhadasa 340 AD
Upatissa I 369 AD Mahanama 410 AD
Soththisena 432 AD Wattagrahaka 432 AD
Miththasena 433 AD Pandu 434 AD
Parindha Kudaparindha
Tirithara Dhatiya
Peetaya Dathusena 459 AD
Kasyapa 477 AD Mugalan 495 AD
Kumaradasa 512 AD Keerthisena 521 AD
Seeva 521 AD Upatissa II 521 AD
Silaakala 522 AD Dhatappabhuthi 535 AD
Mugalan II 535 AD Kithsiri Mevan 555 AD
Mahanaga 573 AD Agbho I 575 AD
Agbho II 608 AD Sangatissa 618 AD
Mugalan III 618 AD Aseegrahaka 623 AD
Agbho III (First Time) 632 AD Pettatissa III 632 AD
Agbho III (Second Time) 632 AD DathasivaI 648 AD
Kasyapa II 650 AD Dappoola I 659 AD

Hatthadasa
659 AD Agbho IV 667 AD
Dattha 683 AD Hatthadatha 684 AD
Manavamma 684 AD Agbho V 719 AD
Kasyapa III 725 AD Mahinda I 731 AD
Agbho VI 733 AD Agbho VII 772 AD
Mihidhu II 778 AD Dappoola II 797 AD
Mihidhu III 802 AD Agbho VIII 805 AD
Dappoola III 816 AD Agmho IX 831 AD

Sena I
833 AD Sena II 853 AD
Udaya II 887 AD Kasyapa IV 898 AD
Kasyapa V 915 AD Dappoola IV 924 AD
Dappoola V 924 AD Udaya II 935 AD
Sena III 938 AD Udaya III 946 AD
Sena IV 952 AD Mihidhu IV 955 AD
Sena V 972 AD Mihidhu V 982 AD
Vijayabahu I 1055 AD Jayabahu I 1110 AD
Vikramabahu 1110 AD Gajaba II 1131 AD
Maha Parakramabahu I 1153 AD Vijayabahu II 1186 AD
Mihindu IV 1187 AD Nissankamalla 1187 AD
Veerabahu 1196 AD Vikramabahu II 1196 AD
Chodaganga 1196 AD Queen Leelavathi 1197 AD
Sahasamalla 1200 AD Queen Kalyanavathi 1202 AD
Dharmashoka 1210 AD Anikanga 1210 AD
Lokeshvara 1211 AD Parakramapandu 1212 AD

Kalinga Maga
1215 AD Prakramabahu III 1287 AD
Vijayabahu III 1220 AD
Parakramabahu II 1234 AD
Vijayabahu IV 1267 AD
Buvanekabahu I (Yapahuva) 1270 AD
Prakramabahu III (P'naruva) 1287 AD Buvanekabahu II 1293 AD
Pandita Parakramabahu IV 1302 AD Buvanekabahu III
Vijayabahu V
Pandita Parakramabahu IV 1302 AD Buvanekabahu IV 1341 AD
Parakramabahu V 1344 AD Buvanekabahu III
Vikramabahu III 1357 AD Buvanekabahu V 1374 AD
Veerabahu II 1392 AD Veera Alakesavara 1397 AD
Parakramabahu V 1412 AD Jayabahu II 1467 AD
Bvanekabahu VI 1472 AD Parakrambahu VII 1480 AD
Veera Parakramabahu VIII 1484 AD Dharma Parakramabahu IX 1508 AD
Vijayabahu VII 1510 AD Buvanekabahu VII 1522 AD
Dharmapala 1551 AD Mayadunne (Sithavaka) 1521 AD
Rajasinhe I 1557 AD
Don Philip 1591 AD Vimala Dharmasooriya I 1591 AD
Senarath 1604 AD Rajasinhe II 1635 AD
Vimala Dharmasooriya II 1687 AD Narendrasinhe 1707 AD
Vijaya Rajasinhe 1739 AD Keerthi Sri Rajasinhe 1747 AD
Rajadi Rajasinhe 1782 AD Sri Vikrma Rajasinhe 1798 AD

Upathissa grama

Upathissa Grama - 505 BC - 504 (King Upatissa)

King Upatissa was the prime minister of the King Vijaya. The King Vijaya did not have any heir for the throne and sent for his younger Brother, prince Sumiththa in India.

By the time the delegates arrived in India the Prince Sumiththa had become the King, and instead he sent his younger son prince Paduwas Dev. Before prince Paduwas Dev reached Sri Lanka the King Vijaya passed away and King Upatissa ruled the kingdom for one year, until the rightful owner took the throne. The Upatissa Grama was the Capital of the kingdom.

Thammana Kingdom

Thammana Kingdom - 543 BC - 505 BC King Vijaya

Prince Vijaya is a son of King Vijeyabahu, who was a provincial King in ancient India. The Prince was expelled from the Kingdom along with 700 followers after the King couldn't put up with Prince's mischievous behavior.

The Vessels carrying the Price and his entourage harbored the Northwest cost of Sri Lanka. After defeating the local tribes with the help received from yaksha tribe princess "Kuweni" the prince establishes a Kingdom in Thammana, and ruled the country for 38 years. Kuweni was expelled by King lately and married to an Indian princess after his coronation.

It's Believed that Kuweni had two children named Deegahatta and Visala from Kiong Vijaya. They supposed to have gone to the Jungle after Kuweni was Killed by her relatives for betraying them.

The Veddhas believe that they are decedents of Deegahatta and Visala the Children of King Vijeya and Princess Kuweni.

According to the mahavansa, yakkhas confined to the center of the Island and Naga dominated the northern and western parts in sixth century B.C. Therefore North of the Island was called Nagadipa. Mr.Kanagasabai,author of "Tamils 1800 Years Ago', mentioned that Yakkhas were the acient 'Yuh chi' a yellow race that emigrated from central of Asia into India through the Himalayan and eventually spread over the whole of bengal and ultimately move to Ceylon.

The Fa hien, monk had told there were no human inhabitations, but was occupied by Nagas and spirits, with which the merchants of various countries carried on a trade. The spirits never showed themselves ,they simply set forth their precious commodities ,with indications of the price attached to them, while merchants made their purchases according to the price.

Nagas was so called because they were serpent-worshippers. Archaeologist conjectured that the name was derived from the fact that their head covering was in the shape of the hood of a hydra-headed cobra.

Aryan emigrated to Ceylon and spread their power across the country. Eventually Naga and Yakksha population was reduced because of Aryans.


Kings in Naga Tribe
Mahallaka Naga
(135 A.D)
Bhatika Tissa
(141 A.D)
Kanittha Tissa
(165 A.D)
Mahallaka Naga
(135 A.D)
Kudda Naga
(195 A.D)
Siri Naga I
(196 A.D)
Woharaka Tissa
(215 A.D)
Abhaya Naga
(237 A.D)
Siri Naga II
(2245 A.D)
ViyaYa
(247 A.D)

Sri Lanka pre-History

Sri Lanka History is incident full. Being an important trade port and oasis of Nature for sea farers of India, East Asia, Europe and Arabia of the ancient times. Sri Lanka has a fascinating documented history over 2500 years of Civilization

Sri Lanka- Pre Historic Times

Sri Lanka has a recorded history since 543 B.C. Although records are not found of civilizations before 543 B.C., historical facts reveal that a civilization existed even long before from Rawana Times. It's believed that an Expelled prince Vijaya to be the first Aryan King of Sri Lanka. Since then many Kings Ruled Sri Lanka Till 1815.

The Homo Sapiens first appeared in Sri Lanka about 500,000 B.C. Few artifacts have been found dating back to subsequent Paleolithic culture of the second Stone age period. Stone cultures endured until about 1000 B.C. The second phase of stone age may have ended some few centuries later with the establishment of metal. The Stone working culture was known as Balandoga Culture. They first made an impression on island life about 5000 B.C and spread through out the Sri Lanka.The Balangoda Manawaya survived until about 500 B.C and faded out under the advance of early settlers from India.

List of pre Historic Caves
Beli Lena - Kitulgala
Wavul Pane - Ratnapura

Kingdom of Ruhuna

The Kingdom of Ruhuna was a Medieval era Sinhalese kingdom located in southern part of Sri Lanka. The capital was known as Magama, near modern Tissamaharama in the Southern Province. The boundries of the Kingdom of Ruhuna are Mahaveli River from North, and keleni river from North West.

Kingdom of Polonnaruwa


The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was the second major Sinhalese kingdom of Sri Lanka. It lasted from 1055 under Vijayabahu I to 1212 under the rule of Lilavati. The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa came after the Anuradhapura Kingdom was invaded by Chola forces under Rajaraja I and after the Kingdom of Ruhuna, where the Sinhalese Kings ruled during Chola occupation.

Vijayabahu I (1055-1110), recaptured the whole Island, and established Polonnaruwa as the new capital. King Vijayabahu married from the Kalinga (Orissa) Royal Family a second queen, and had a son Vikramabâhu I and a daughter Ratnavali. His sister, Mitta, married a Pandya Prince who had three sons, the eldest being Manabharana. He married Ratnavali. Their son was Parākramabāhu I (1153-1186) Grandson of Vijayabahu I, Prince of Sinhala-Pandyan-Kalinga descent, son of Manabharana and Vijayabahu’s sister, Mitta. He was a very powerful king, noted for his engineering,[1] naval power, art, culture, many Sinhala inscriptions, and even a Tamil edict in Uruthota (Kayts). The Chulavamsa was written by Dharmakirthi, updating the Mahavamsa to include Parakramabahu. It was a great age since the epic Anradhapura period.

Jaffna kingdom
Jaffna kingdom and Aryacakravarti dynasty

The Jaffna kingdom, also known as Kingdom of Aryacakravarti came into existence after the invasion of Magha, who is said to have been from Kalinga, in South India. It eventually became a tribute paying feudatory of the Pandyan Empire in modern South India in 1250, but later become independent with the fragmentation of the Pandyan control. For a brief period, in the early to middle fourteenth century, it was an ascendant power in the island of Sri Lanka when all regional kingdoms accepted subordination. However, the kingdom was eventually overpowered by the rival Kotte Kingdom, around 1450.

It was freed of Kotte control in 1467; its subsequent rulers directed their energies towards consolidating its economic potential by maximising revenue from pearls and elephant exports and land revenue. It was less feudal than most of other regional kingdoms in the island of Sri Lanka of the same period. During this period, important local Tamil literature was produced and Hindu temples were built including an academy for language advancement.

The arrival of the Portuguese colonial power to the island of Sri Lanka in 1505, and its strategic location in the Palk Strait connecting all interior Sinhalese kingdoms to South India, created political problems. Many of its kings confronted and ultimately made peace with the Portuguese colonials. In 1617, Cankili II, an usurper to the throne, confronted the Portuguese but was defeated, thus bringing the kingdom’s independent existence to an end in 1619.

Kingdom of Dambadeniya
Dambadeniya is an ancient capital of Sri Lanka. Four kings ruled from here, Vijayabâhu III (1220-1236), Parâkkamabâhu II (1236-1270), Vijayabâhu IV (1270-1272), Bhuvanaikabâhu I(1272-1283).

The first king to choose Dambadeniya as his capital was Vijayabâhu III. He was able to bring about the unity among the sangha that had fled in various directions due to the hostile activities of the invader Kalinga magha & succeeded in holding a Buddhist convention in 1226 to bring about peace among the Buddhist clergy. king Parâkkamabâhu II inherited the throne from king Vijayabâhu. He is considered a genius who was a great poet & prolific writer. Among the books he wrote are Kausilumina, which is considered a great piece of literature. Unifying the three kingdoms that existed within Sri Lanka at that point of time is regarded as greatest achievement.

King Bosath Vijayabâhu, as the eldest son of king Parâkkamabâhu II, was crowned in 1270. He was well known for his modest behaviour & for his religious activities. He was killed in the second year of his reign by a minister called Miththa.

After the demise of his elder brother Vijayabâhu, king Bhuvanaikabâhu I, as the next in line to the throne, shifted the capital to Yapahuwa for reasons of security. He followed his father's footsteps as a writer & continued with the religious activities started by his brother Vijayabâhu.

Anuradhapura Kingdom

In the early ages of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, Sinhalese economic was based on farming and made their early settlements mainly near the rivers of the east, north central, and north east areas, which supplied the water for farming for the whole year. The king was the ruler of country, the law, the Army and the protector of faith. Devanampiya Tissa (250-210 BC), a Sinhalese King of the Mauriya clan. His links with Emperor Asoka led to the introduction of Buddhism by Mahinda (son of Asoka) in 247? BC. Sangamitta, (sister of Mahinda) brought a Bodhi sapling via Jambukola (Sambiliturei). This king's reign was crucial to Theravada Buddhism, and for Sri Lanka.

Elara (205-161 BC), a Tamil King who ruled "Pihiti Rata", i.e., Sri Lanka north of the mahaweli, after killing King Asela. During Elara's time, Kelani Tissa was a sub-king of Maya Rata (south-west) and Kavan Tissa was a regional sub-king of Ruhuna (south-east). Kavan Tissa built Tissa Maha Vihara, Dighavapi Tank and many shrines in Seruvila. Dutugemunu (161-137 BC) – Eldest son of King Kavan Tissa, who was a young man 25 years of age, defeated the South Indian Tamil Invader Elara (over 64 years of age) in single combat, described in the Mahavamsa. Dutugemunu is depicted as a Sinhala "Asoka". The Ruwanwelisaya, built by this king is a dagaba of pyramid-like proportions. It was an engineering marvel.

Pulahatta (or Pulahatha) deposed by Bahiya, was deposed by Panaya Mara, deposed by Pilaya Mara, murdered by Dathiya 88 BC – deposed by Valagambahu, ending Tamil rule. Valagambahu I (89-77) BC – restored the Dutugamunu dynasty. The Mahavihara Theravada - Abhayagiri (pro-Mahayana) doctrinal disputes arose at this time. The Tripitaka was written in Pali at Aluvihara, Matale. Chora Naga (Mahanaga) (63-51) BC; poisoned by his consort Anula. Queen Anula (48-44 BC) – Widow of Chora Naga and Kuda Tissa, was the first Queen of Lanka. She had many lovers who were poisoned by her. She was finally killed by: Kuttakanna Tissa. Vasabha (67-111 AD) – Vallipuram gold plate; he fortified Anuradhapura and built eleven tanks; many edicts. Gajabahu I (114-136) – invaded the Chola kingdom and brought back captives. He recovered the tooth relic of the Buddha.

Mahasena (274-301) – The Theravada (Maha Vihara) was persecuted and Mahayana surfaced. Later the King returned to the Maha Vihara. Pandu (429) - first of seven Pandiyan rulers, ending with Pithya, 455; Dhatusena (459-477), his uncle, Mahanama wrote the Mahavamsa, he built "Kalaweva". His son Kashyapa (477-495), built the famous sigiriya rock palace. Some 700 rock graffiti give a glimpse of ancient Sinhala.

Ancient Sri Lanka

The Pali chronicles, the Dipavansa, Mahavansa, Thupavansa and the Chulavansa as well as a large collection of stone inscriptions, the Indian Epigraphical records, the Burmese versions of the chronicles etc., provide an exceptional record for the history of Sri Lanka from about the 6th century B.C.
The Mahavansa, written around 400 AD by the monk Nagasena, using the Deepavamsa, the Attakatha and other written sources available to him, correlates well with Indian histories of the period. Indeed Emperor Asoka's reign is recorded in the Mahavansa. The Mahavansa account of the period prior to Asoka's coronation, (218 years after the Buddha's death) seems to be part legend. History proper begins with the arrival of Vijaya and his 700 followers. Vijaya, is a Kalinga(ancient Orissa) prince, the eldest son of King Sinhabahu ("Man with Lion arms") and his sister Queen Sinhasivali. Both these Sinhala leaders were born of a mythical union between a lion and a human princess. The Mahavansa claims that Vijaya landed on the same day as the death of the Buddha (See Geiger's preface to Mahavansa). The story of Vijaya and Kuveni (the local reigning queen) is reminiscent of Greek legend, and may have a common source in ancient Proto-Indo-European folk tales.

According to the Mahavansa, Vijaya landed on Sri Lanka near Mahathitha (Manthota or Mannar, and named the Island "Thambaparni" ('copper-colored palms). This name is attested in Ptolemy's map of the ancient world.

Tamirabharani is the old name for the second longest river in Sri Lanka (known as Malwatu Oya in Sinhala and Aruvi Aru in Tamil). This river was a main supply route connecting the capital, Anuradhapura to Mahathitha (Mannar). The waterway was used by Greek and by Chinese ships travelling the southern Silk Route.

Mahathitha was an ancient port linking Sri Lanka to India and the Persian gulf,.

The present day Sihalese (and many modern Tamils) are a mixture of the indegenous people and of other peoples who came to the island from various parts of India. The Sinhalese recognize the Vijayan Indo-Aryan culture and Buddism (already in existence prior to the arrival of Vijaya), as distinct from other groups in neighbouring south India.

Prehistoric Sri Lanka

The earliest archaeological evidence of human colonization in Sri Lanka appears at the site of Balangoda. These Balangoda people arrived on the island about 34,000 years ago and are identified as Mesolithic hunter gatherers who lived in caves. Several of these caves including the well known Batadombalena and the Fa-Hien Rock cave) have yielded many artifacts from these people, currently the first known inhabitants of the island.

The Sandakelum people probably created Horton Plains, in the central hills, by burning the trees in order to catch game. However, the discovery of oats and barley on the plains at about 15,000 BC suggests that agriculture had already developed at this eary date.

Several minute granite tools, (about 4 centimetres in length), earthenware, remnants of charred timber, and clay burial pots date to the Mesolithic stone age. Human remains dating to 6000 BC have been discovered during recent excavations around a cave at Varana Raja Maha vihara and in Kalatuwawa area.

Cinnamon, which is native to Sri Lanka, has been found in Ancient Egypt as early as 1500 BC, suggesting early trade between Egypt and the island's inhabitants. It is possible that Biblical Tarshish was located on the island. (James Emerson Tennent identified Sri Lanka with Galle).

Archaeological evidence for the beginnings of the Iron age in Sri Lanka is found at Anuradhapura, where a large city–settlement was founded before 900 BC. The settlement was about 15 hectares in 900 BC, but by 700 BC it had expanded to 50 hectares.[3] A similar site from the same period has also been discovered near Aligala in Sigiriya.

The hunter-gatherer people known as the Wanniyala-Aetto or Veddas, (who still live in the central, Uva and north-eastern parts of the island), are probably direct descendants of the first inhabitants (Balangoda man). They may have migrated to the island from the mainland around the time humans spread from Africa to the Indian subcontinent.

Around 500 BC, Sri Lankans (archaeological phase?, Cultural/Linguistic Identity?) developed a unique hydraulic civilization. Achievements include the construction of the largest reservoirs and dams of the ancient world as well as enormous pyramid-like Stupa (Dagoba) architecture. This phase of Sri Lankan culture was profoundly influenced by early Buddhism.

Around 400 BC, Indo-Aryan peoples emigrated from India, mixed with the Hela people and later Buddhism was established to create the Sinhalese culture in Sri Lanka. Buddhist scriptures note three visits by the Buddha to the island to see the Naga Kings, who are said to be snakes that can take the form of human at will. The kings are though to be symbolic and not based on historical fact.

More than 70% of the current Sinhalese populace identify themselves as Buddhist. By contrast most of the current Tamil populace identify themselves as Hindu.

The earliest surviving chronicles from the island, the Dipavamsa and the Mahavamsa, say that tribes of Yakkhas (demon worshippers), Nagas (cobra worshippers) and devas (god worshippers) inhabited the island prior to the migration of Vijaya.

Pottery has been found at Anuradhapura, bearing Brahmi script and non-Brahmi writing, dating back to 600 BC – one of the oldest examples of the script.

History of Sri Lanka

The chronicle records and archaeological discoveries of human beings and their events happened in area known as Sri Lanka is called the History of Sri Lanka. The number of archaeological evidences and chronicles written by Sri Lankans and non-Sri Lankans, exploring the history of more than 10,000 years.

The archaeological discovery of the Balangoda Man providing the evidences of a 30,000 years past civilization and with the famous chronicles of Sri Lanka, the Mahawansa, the Dipavamsa, the Culavamsa and the Rajaveliya which has the recorded Sri Lankan history from the beginnings of the Sinhalese monarchy in the 6th century BC to the arrival of European Colonialists in the sixteenth century, up until the disestablishment of the monarchy in 1815. There are some historical records about the country aslo included in the famous Indian chronicles of sage Valmiki's Ramayana, Mahabharata and the ancient books of Gautama Buddha's teachings.

The period after sixteenth century, some coastal areas of the country was ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. After the year 1815 the entire nation was ruled by the British Colonialists until the political independence granted in 1948 and becomes a sovereign state after 1972. The Sri Lankan people's armed uprisings happened against the British colonial rule in 1818 Uva Rebellion and in 1848 Matale Rebellion.

The new constitution was introduced in 1978 the Executive President as the head of state, was happened after the armed youth uprising in 1971 known as 1971 April Rebellion. The Sri Lankan Civil War started in 1983 and again another armed youth uprising happened in 1987-89 period and the 26 year civil war ended in year 2009.

The significant cultural changes happened after introducing the Buddhism in 3rd century BC by Arhath Mahinda (was the son of Indian emperor Ashoka the Great), after sixteenth century arrival of European Colonialists and after 1977 the new open economic policies also changed the cultural values in the country.