Sri Lanka Sinhalese Family Genea

Sri Lanka Sinhalese Family Genealogy

TUDUGALA - Family #3143

The Tudugala Family (extracted from 'The Tudugala Family, Some Notes on the Tudugalas in the Reign of Rajasinha II, by J.H.O.Paulussz, BA (Lond), (Oxon), former Archivist to the Government of Ceylon, published March 1970 by Tisara Prakasakayo, Colombo, Ceylon)

[see family trees of JAYAWARDENE, URALAWATTA PERERA & WIJEWARDENA ]

http://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/slm-kings.htm

http://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/gen3000.html

The Tudugala family traces its ancestry back to the 15th Century to the great Sri Parakrama Bahu VI himself, King of Kotte from 1412 to 1467 AD. The recent 400 years, dating back from the 21st Century are completely accurate while the period before that has many contradictions and uncertainties. The present book by Mr J H O Paulusz, formerly Archivist to the Government of Ceylon, is a record of this unique genealogical history in the more recent era, the saga of the Tudugala family.

Seversal circumstances have contributed to the existence of this unique family history. In the 17th Century, two brothers, Tennekoon Mudiyanse and Tudugala Maddumarala, who were both great grandsons of Vidiya Bandara, distinguished themselves as Generals in the armies of King Rajasinha II. Their success was also their downfall as is often seen and heard within such elite Royal circles. Tennekoon Mudiyanse was driven into exile and his brother Tudugala Maddumarala was imprisoned and probably executed. Their success in King Rajasinha's wars, and as Dissawe's of his provinces, and their final exile, disgrace, and death, are part of the history of Ceylon in the 17th Century. Equally unfortunate was the fate of Tudugala Maddumarala's son, Tudugala Appuhamy, Dissawe of Sabaragamuwa, who was also executed by Rajasinha II in 1676. The fortunes of this star-crossed family soon became part of Sinhalese folklore and legend and these events, as well as the ancestry of the two brother-chiefs were committed to writing by some time during the Kandyan period.

An old manuscript titled, "Tudugala Vidagama Pevati Bandarawaliya", which gives an account of the family from Sri Parakrama Bahu VI, King of Kotte, provides much needed information about the early ancestry and activities of the Tudugala family. This ola manuscript s presently preserved and displayed at the Colombo Museum bearing Numbers 2023, 2024 & 2025. The document describes the Bandara families of Vidagama and of the land and dignitaries granted to them. It is supposed to have been composed during the last years of the 19th Century by a Bhikku, Tudugala Dhammajoti, who was himself a great grandson of Tennekoon Mudiyanse, the General. The final sentence in the manuscript states that the document was completed on September 20, 1897.

Tudugala Appuhamy was appointed Dissawa of Sabaragamuwa circa 1674 where he left his wife and children behind in the Dutch territories in his ancestral village of Tudugala in the Kalutara District. His appointment at Sabaragamuwa and his subsequent promotion as Gajanayake Nilame at King Rajasinha's Court in Kandy brought him no benefit for the capricious king was soon to have him executed in one of the periodic massacres of the aristocracy with which the king studded his painful reign. The genealogy of his family can be easily traced from the Dutch records in the Ceylon Government Archives. The history of the family during and after the British Colonial era is easily available and more accurate from the records of the British archives in Ceylon.

The Tudugala Vidagama Pevati Bandaravaliya, an ola manuscript written in Sinhala prose, now preserved in the Colombo National Museum bearing numbers 2023, 2024 & 2423,compiled by Bhikku Tudugala Dhammajoti, a great great grandson of Tennekoon Mudiyanse, completed on Sep 20, 2897 translates into English as follows:-

'On the 18th year of the Buddha era after the Buddha had attained enlightenment, a Prince and a Princess of the Sakya clan who were suffering from leprosy were placed on the outer boundary of the country and Koliya (Chola, in South India, now referred to as Tamil Nadu), along with the necessary requisites. Seeing a large Kolom Tree with a large cavity they made arrangements to live there. These two, having consumed various kinds of fruits and herbs, found that they were cured of the dreaded disease.

Sending messengers to their own country they brought their retinue back home. They, considering this spot to be a place of victory, cut down the Kolam Tree, uprooted the stump and cleaned the place in order to build a city, which was later named the city of Koliya. The Prince married the Princess and named the country the Koliya Country and reigned there.

At a much later stage when the same Cola (Chola) Clan was ruling at Kotte, Kelaniya, and Devinuwara, in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), since there was no suitable Royal Prince to succeed the Great King of Kotte, certain Ministers who were aware that there was a nephew of the reigning Monarch of Cola at that time, sent a secret message to the great Cola King requesting him to send his nephew to succeed to the Royal Throne of Kotte. When that nephew was coming by ship, the Minister Alakeswara, became King by offering bribes. The Ministers who had sent the message to the Cola Country prevented the Prince from disembarking at the port of Colombo and made him disembark at Munneswaram and took him to the Mayadunna Korale, and entrusted the Prince to the greater elder Rukula along with a message introducing him and urging him to protect the Prince in secrecy until he is requested to send him back.

When the elder, Rukula, was guarding the Cola Prince at Rukulawatta, the Mnister Alakeswara who was reigning at Kotte was killed at Raigama. The Prince who was at Rukuluwatta was brought and was named Rukulu Maha Parakrama Bahu and was reigning at Kotte. After the demise of his uncle the great Cola King, his cousin, was crowned and was reigning as King Nethakonitittambu Muditha Perumal.

At that time, the King of Marathi, declared war against the Cola Counyry and after 12 years of seige, being unable to win the war, hoisted the white flag and sought permission to go to another country. Since he belonged to the Suriya Clan and was leaving the country after surrendering, the King permitted him to take as much retinue and wealth as he wished.

The King of Marathi left his country with wealth laden in seven ships and sufficient with whom he was on his way to disembark in Colombo.

When the Noble Lord of Lanka, Rukulu Parakrama Bahu, was informed of this, he was extremely happy and sent five Disava's along with the Commander in Chief, Sannas Wickremasinghe, to welcome him. Since then, he made arrangements to settle him in Visidagama. The original residents of Visidagama were offered lands at Tudugala in order to make this the abode of the Royal King. Four stone pillars inscribed with the Sun and the Moon were placed on the four boundaries. After the city was built the King was offered Visidagama, Tudugala, Madugama, and Henagama, as Paraveni Villages, and one province Ramatota for sustenance in addition to the village of Padagala within the four boundaries of Pasdun Korale.

Many more officers, including this act of gift (Sannas) were bestowed in the presence of a number of Mudaliyars, including the Commander in Chief Sannas Wickremasinghe, at the Chitrakuta Pavilion of the City of Jayawardenapura in Kotte in order that the descendants of Tennekoon Nittambu Muditha Perumal, may enjoy the fruits and benefits after offering sixteen Panams annually to the Celesial Palace of the Lord Uppalavanna Sri Vishnu at Devundara.

While living in the two villages, Tudugala and Visidagama, a Prince named Aramaditta Perumal and a Princess were born to Tennekoon Nittambu Perumal. When these two grew up, marrying each other in order to protect the clan, the Cola King passed away. A Prince and two Princesses were born to Aramaditta Perumal.

When the two Princesses grew up they were given in marriage to the elder brother just as in the previous occasion. A few days after the death of Aramaditta Perumal, in the City of Kotte, a Prince of another clan assumed soverignty. As those of the Suriya Clan do not inter marry with any nother clan, such as the Chandra Clan or the Mana Clan, the Cola Prince who was at Visidama entered the order, attained the higher ordination and was known as the Great Elder Buddhaghosa of Visidagama.

There was no one to whom the younger sisters could be given in marriage. The older sister was given in marriage to Daluppiti Vahara Vanaratana Mahimi Bandara, who belonged to the same Cola Clan. That section of the clan existed in the village named Senapala in Sath Korale. The younger sister was given in marriage to Balasooriya Bandara, the younger of the two brothers Navaratna Bandara and Balasuriya Bandara, the sons of the great Dapulu Sen who was reigning in Devinuwara.

King Dapulu Sena was married to the daughter of the Brahamana Ramachandra, who accompanied the symbol of the King of Gods Sri Vishnu from Rameswaram to Devinuwara in Matota. When a Bandara named Suriya Bandara was born to the above named Bandara, Vidiya Bandara went to the upcountry collecting an army from the Rata Paha, Uva, Wellassa, Matale, and Bintenne, with the intention of waging war againt the Great King who reigned at Sitawaka. Being defeated in battle, he went to a village called Pundara in Wellassa, collected an army from there and came to Balana. Being defeated in war, he went to Trincomalee trekking through the jungle, to avoid the Great King Rajasingha, taking with him armies collected from the different provinces. He then boarded a ship at Trincomalee and sailed to the Cola Counry. The Great King Rajasingha of Sitawaka thought "the rebel had rebelled, yet I have no issue to succeed me to the throne", and brought Suriya Bandara, the son of Vidiya Bandara, who was also the Kings nephew. Being pleased, when the Prince was brought to his presence, the King caused him to be taught sword fighting and other forms of warfare.'

1 CHANDRA BHANU 1270 AD – Son of the first ruler of Yapa Patuna (Jaffnapatnam) – He captured the Fort of Yapahuva but was deprived of his victory by the Pandya Emperor Kulasekera.

2 SON

2 VIJAYA BAHU V (Jaya Bahu, KANDY), b:circa 1285, 1307 AD – Second son of Chandra Banu of Jaffnapatnam – Vijaya Bahu was reigning in the north of the Malayan Peninsula, retreated to Anuradhapura, where he met Parakrama bahu IV.

His son, Bodamapananda, came into conflict with Parakrama bahu with the result that Kurunegala was seized by Bodamapananda for his father, and Vijaya Bahu was installed on the throne as Vijaya Bahu V. He abandoned Kurunegala and retreated to Senkadagala (Kandy) after the eleventh year of his reign, as the Arya Chakravarti, the first ruler of Yapa Patuna having captured Anuradhapura had advanced to Yapahuva and taken possession of the fortress, having slain Vijaya Bahu’s son Bodamapananda. The king died and his son Bhuvaneka Bahu IV ascended the throne.

3 BHUVANEKA BAHU IV, b:circa 1310, GAMPOLA, 1341-1351 AD – Son of Vijaya Bahu V – capital was shifted to Gampola where he established himself with the support of the General Senalankadhikara, brother-in-law of Bhuvaneka Bahu IV. It is probable that the capital was shifted from Kurunegala to Gampola owing to civil strife among the Sinhala themselves. Bhuvaneka Bahu IV was a man of great wisdom and faith, and a mind of excellent virtues. After his death his brother, Parakrama Bahu V, ascended the throne.

4 VIKRAMA BAHU III, b:circa 1325, 1357-1374 AD – Son of Buvaneka Bahu IV – The struggle for power between Senalankadhikara and Alagakonnara (Alakesvara) of Rayigama gave the opportunity to Nissanka Alakesvara to establish himself as the de facto ruler of Gampola, reducing Vikrama Bahu III to the position of a mere figurehead and also becoming the joint husband with his brothers of that kings sister. The Tamil Kingdom of Yapa Patuna under King Arya Chakravarti, was growing in power and influence. Nissanka Alakeswara, later, defeated the Yapa Patuna ruler and forced him to swear allegiance to Gampola. He thus became the de facto ruler of a United Lanka.

4 SISTER

5 BHUVANEKA BAHU V, b:circa 1340, 1357-1374 AD – Nissanka Alakeswara’s son by the sister of Vikrama Bahu III – He was proclaimed de jure king, as Bhuvaneka Bahu V. He was a staunch Buddhist and devoted the greater part of his time for the furtherance of religion.

The Jaffna King, Arya Chakravarti, sent armies by sea and land and the expedition by land seems to have had some success as Bhuvaneka bahu had fled Gampola and retired at Raigama where he reigned in the shadow of Vira Alakeswara.

Vira Alakeswara destroyed Arya Chakravarti’s army and marched on in triumph to Kotte. As Bhuvaneka Bahu was unable to return to Gampola the Sinhala Chiefs installed Vira Bahu, an energetic and ambitious prince, as king.

After the death of Bhuvaneka Bahu, Vira Bahu’s elder brother Vijaya Bahu, who was living at Raigama, was enthroned King of Kotte by Alakeswara and exercised authority over the Kingdom for twelve years. Vira Alakeswara developed and constructed the City of Jayavaddhanakotta.

He maltreated foreigners resorting to the Island and he plundered their vessels. A mission from China was insulted and waylaid, and, with difficulty effected an escape from Lanka. N the following year another mission was sent and they inverted the capital, made a prisoner of the king and carried him captive, together with his queen, children, officers of state and attendants. The prisoners were presented at court. The Chinese Ministers pressed for their execution but the emporer set him at liberty, yet, commanded them to select a virtuous man from the same family to occupy the throne. All captives declared in favor of Seay-pa-nea-na (Prince Sepanana or Parakrama Bahu VI) whereupon the sovereignty of the Sinhala Kingdom was given to him.

5 SISTER + VIRA BAHU II, RAYIGAMA, 1408-1410 AD – Brother in law of King Buvaneka Bahu V – held power at Rayigama. He occupied the throne of Lanka during the period of time that elapsed between the capture of Bhuvaneka Bahu V and the appointment of Parakrama Bahu VI on the throne.

3 PARAKRAMA BAHU V, b:circa 1311, DEDIGAMA, 1344-1359 AD – Brother of Buvaneka Bahu IV, son of Vijaya Bahu V – assumed power at Dedigama. He was associated with his brother Bhuvaneka Bahu IV as king for a greater part of his reign, with Dedigama as his capital, and later moved to Gampola and received the backing of Senalankadhikara. Vikrama Bahu III, son of Bhuvaneka Bahu IV from a sister of Senalankadhikara, was heir apparent. Parakrama Bahu V lost his throne and fled to Java (Malay Peninsula)

4 DAUGHTER, b:circa 1340

5 SUNETHRA DEVI, b:1370 + CHANDRABHANU

6 SRI PARAKRAMA BAHU VI 1412-1467 AD (Kotte) – Prince named Sepanana (Jayapala) descended from Parakrama Bahu, the third son of Chandra Banu of Yapa Patuna (Jaffnapatnam), and whose mother, Sunethradevi, was a daughter of the daughter of Parakrama Bahu V of Dedigama –

Sepanana, who was born and bred in Palembang, made himself accepted as the ruler of the South and the West, by the Sinhalese, with the backing of the prelate of Raigama, Vidagama Maha Thera. He assumed the name Parakrama Bahu VI and made Kotte the capital of his kingdom and proved himself to be an exemplary monarch. The king had two adopted sons, named Sapumal Kumara and Ambulugala Kumara. When these princes had attained their manhood, the king, desirous of bringing the whole of Lanka – the Northern protion of which had fallen into the hands of a South Indian king – under his sway, entrusted the task of expelling the invader and subjugating the district to his eldest son Sapumal Kumara. He fell upon many villages belonging to Jaffna and brought many prisoners of war to Kotte. The king sent his son out for the second time with another army. On this occasion, after a fierce battle, Sapumal Kumara captured the kingdom and took the King of Jaffna, Arya Chakravarthi, a prisoner, and putting him to death brought his wife and children to Kotte, where he presented them to his father, King Parakrama Bahu. The king, highly pleased with the exploits of his son, handed over the administration of Jaffna to him. The king brought the highland kingdom (Kanda Uda Rata) also under his authority.

The king was a great patron of literature. Great educational programs were made during his reign. Schools and Pirivena’s flourished. Poets of imperishable renown like Totagamuve Sri Rahula gave learning and culture an impetus such as it had never been before. At the village of Pepiliyana, near Kotte, he built a temple with a school attached and named it Sunetra Devi Pirivena, after his mother so that merit may accrue to her. The Sinhalese, in their new capital, reached their last period of brillianct achievements. He thus became the ruler of a United Lanka. Parakrama Bahu VI died a peaceful death in the fifty second year of his reign.

7 BHUVANEKA BAHU VI 1472-1480 AD (Kotte) – Sapumal Kumara, son of Parakrama Bahu VI – After putting to death Vira Parakrama Bahu VII, Sapumal Kumara ascended the throne under the title Bhuvaneka Bahu VI. He was a staunch Buddhist and was devoted to furthering the welfare of his people and religion. During his reign a chief of Pasdun Korale named Siriwardena Patty Raja raised a rebellion. This insurrection was speedily quelled by the kings brother Ambulagala Kumara. Bhuvaneka Bahu VI died in the seventh year of his reign.

8 PANDITA PARAKRAMA BAHU 1477 AD – Adopted son of Buvaneka Bahu VI - The King, on ascending the throne, appointed the rebel Patty Raja as general. The late King Sapumal Kumara’s brother, Amubulagala Kumara, on receiving the news of his brother’s death and of the usurpation of the throne, hurried with his army, where, after a fiercely fought battle, the kings General, Patty Raja was slain. He also cruelly put to death King Pandita Parakrama Bahu and all members of his family.

7 VIRA PARAKRAMA BAHU VIII 1484-1518 AD (Kotte) – Ambulagala Kumara, son of Parakrama Bahu VI – Ambulagala Kumara crowned himself King assuming the name Vira Parakrama Bahu. He spent large sums of money in the furtherance of Buddhism. He killed Pandith Parakramabahu and became King. He had four princes and princesses and reigned for twenty years. + QUEEN 1

8 DHARMA PARAKRAMA BAHU IX, b:circa 1440, 1509-1528 AD (Kotte/Kelaniya?) – aka BHUVANEKA BAHU, Son of Vira Parakrama Bahu – During his reign there existed several “Kings” (Rajas) ruling various parts of the country. They all paid tribute to the ruler at Kotte and called him the “Emperor” (Maha Rajah). The Indian Moors effected a landing in Chilaw during this period. The Raja’s of Udugampola and Madampe inflicted a crushing defeat on them in which there leader Kadiraya was slain. About this time, the Portuguese had started competing with the Moors for trade in the East Indies. On receiving news that the Portuguese had arrived off Galle on Nov 15 1505, the Emperor sent Chakrayudha Rajah in person to deal with them as he thought best in the interest of the Island.

The Portuguese formed an alliance with the king and established a factory or trading station in Colombo. They put to sea a stone cross at Colombo to record the event of their arrival.

King Dharma Parakrama Bahu died in the twentieth year of his reign.

8 SRI RAJASIMHA (Manikkadavara) + KIRAVALI PRINCESS** + VIJAYABAHU VII

Beginning of Portuguese Colonial rule in Ceylon. At this time, there were three kingdoms. Foremost was the kingdom of Kotte. A separate dynasty was ruling in Kandy, having broken away from Kotte and the kingdom of Jaffna in the North.

8 VIJAYA BAHU VII OF KOTTE, b:circa 1445, 1509-1521 AD (Kotte) – Brother of Dharma Parakrama Bahu IX, Rajah of Menik Kadavara – The king was informed that the proposed factory or trading station, requested by the Portuguese, was to be mounted with canon. After many pleadings by the Portuguese the king gave a reluctant assent and the first European stronghold in Ceylon began to rise out on the rocky beach at Colombo. Thus came into being the Fort of Colombo.

King Vijaya Bahu had three sons, Bhuvaneka Bahu, Maha Raigam Bandara and Mayadunne by his first wife. On her death he married an Indian Princess by whom he had a son named Deva Raja Kumara. The sons of the kings first wife, having learnt that the king, in consultation with his Ministers, had decided upon appointing their step brother as his successor to the throne, fled from Kotte and having secured the assistance of Jayavira – the Raja of Kandy, marched on to the capital (Kotte) and had their father murdered in his palace.

Bhuvaneka Bahu, the eldest brother ascended the throne. Thereafter Raigam Bandara took up his abode at Raigama as Raja of that district, and Mayadunne built himself a city at Sitavaka and established himself as Raja of that district. Civil strife and internal dissensions gave the Portuguese the opportunity of obtaining a permanent foothold in the Island. + Queen Anula Kahatuda (Kiravalle Mahabiso Bandara).

8 VIJAYAVIRA BANDARA 1511-1552 AD – Cousin of Mayadunne – The kingdom of Kandy remained in spite of repeated attempts by the Portuguese to subdue it. Their efforst to convert the ruler, Jayaweera Bandara, to Christianity ended in failure.

KARALLIYADDE BANDARA 1552-1582 AD – Grandson of Senasammata Vikrama Bahu – Was placed on the Kandyan throne by the Portuguese.

9 Maha Raiygam Bandara (b circa 1470)

9 BHUVANEKA BAHU VII, b:circa 1475, 1521-1551 AD (Kotte) – Eldest son of Vijaya Bahu - Shortly before his death in 1551, the king successfully obtained Portuguese recognition of his grandson, Dharmapala, as his successor. Portugal pledged to protect Dharmapala from attack in return for privileges, including a continuous payment in cinnamon and permission to rebuild the fort at Colombo on a grander scale. When Bhuvanekabahu died, Dharmapala, still a child, was entrusted to the Franciscans for his education, and, in 1557, he converted to Roman Catholicism. His conversion broke the centuries-old connection between Buddhism and the state, and a great majority of Sinhalese immediately disqualified the young monarch from any claim to the throne. The rival king at Sitawake exploited the issue of the prince's conversion and accused Dharmapala of being a puppet of a foreign power. Died of accidental gun shot injury from Portuguese guard.

Before long, rival King Mayadunne had annexed much of the Kotte kingdom and was threatening the security of the capital city itself. The Portuguese were obliged to defend Dharmapala (and their own credibility) because the ruler lacked a popular following. They were subsequently forced to abandon Kotte and retreat to Colombo, taking the despised puppet king with them. Mayadunne and, later, his son, Rajasinha, besieged Colombo many times. The latter was so successful that the Portuguese were once even forced to eat the flesh of their dead to avoid starvation. The Portuguese would probably have lost their holdings in Sri Lanka had they not had maritime superiority and been able to send reinforcements by sea from their base at Goa on the western coast of India.

10 [2] SAMUDRA DEVI + [1] VIDHIYA KUMARA BANDARA (Palanda, Grandson from mothers side of Tanivalle Bahu)

11 DON JUAN DHARMAPALA, B:CIRCA 1515, 1551-1597 AD – Grandson of King Bhuvaneka Bahu VII, son of Vidiya Bandara – On the death of Bhuvaneka Bahu, his grandson Dharmapala, Vidiya Bandara’s son, was officially proclaimed king. Puppet of the Portuguese, converted to Catholicism from Buddhism. + SANTANA DEVI sister of DONA CATHERINA

Kotte became a Portuguese protectorate as the king of Portugal had undertaken at Bhuvaneka Bahu’s request to protect and uphold Dharmapala against Mayadunne. Vidiya Bandara was the first to swear the oath of allegiance to his son. Since he was yet too young to rule the Ministers unanimously elected Vidiya Bandara to function as Regent. Mayadunne, hearing of his brothers death rose again in rebellion. Before Vidiya could crush this rebellion the Portuguese Viceroy Noronha arrived in Colombo with a large army in search of the late king’s treasures. They went on the rampage causing more bloodshed than ever before. The viceroy requested the king to convert to Christianity but he politely excused himself on the ground that it would furnish Mayadunne with a weapon to be used against him on the grounds that he had deserted his national faith. The viceroy set sail for Goa, having instructed the Governor of Colombo to arrest the king’s father Vidiya Bandara. Hardly had he left the shores, Vidiya Bandara descended on Kotte like a thunderbolt, made no secret of his hostility to the Portuguese and their religion. He massacred them as much as he hated them and thus began his anti-Catholic campaign. He destroyed every catholic Church and re-established Buddhist Vihare’s there and put to death some who had embraced the Catholic faith. Vidiya Bandara was imprisoned in a dungeon. He escaped and entered into an agreement with the king of Jaffna to join together to drive away the perverter of their religion and laws. Whilst this agreement was being solemnized in the famous temple of Nallur an accidental explosion of some gunpowder took place which made Vidiya think that he was to be the victim of an act of treachery on the part of the Tamil King. He hastily drew his sword against the king and after a desperate struggle between the Sinhalese and Tamils within the sacred Temple, Vidiya Bandara was cut down whilst his treasures, wife, and other possessions fell into the hands of the Jaffna king.

Vidiya Bandara died as he had lived, sword in hand. A worthy end to the life of undoubtedly the greatest General this country has ever produced. The king of Jaffna greatly deplored this sad tragedy, especially as it had occurred in his presence and had been unable to prevent it. He built a Temple in honor of Vidiya Bandara in Jaffna, deifying him. Now Dharmapala found himself free to act on his own. He became a Christian taking the name of the reigning King of Portugal, John III. Thus a Christian sat on the Sinhala throne. The first and only catholic King of this island. He was a puppet king in the hands of the Portuguese. He donated his kingdom to the Portuguese and at his death lost it altogether for Sinhala royalty and the people, for not having issue to succeed him.

Philip I of Portugal became suzerain of the Kingdom of Kotte on the death of Dharmapala in 1597. With the Kingdom of Kotte now directly under Portuguese rule, the missionaries became very active throughout the Kingdom.

The plan was to have Jayaweera’s daughter Santana Devi married off to Dharmapala. This proposal was agreed by Jayaweera II who ultimately had to abandon his Kingdom due to protests from the Buddhist clergy and the people of Senkadagala who opposed this matrimonial alliance with Dharmapala who had been baptised as Don Juan. Jayaweera II was chased away from the Senkadagala Kingdom and Weerawickramabahu son of Thunayama succeeded him.

Santana Devi was baptised as Dona Magarita in Kotte and lived with Dharmapala. It maybe recalled that her niece? (Sister? ) Kusumasana Devi, too, was baptised as Dona Catherina and…. Dharmapala ruled for fifty seven years and died on 27.05.1597.

11 Vijayapala Adahasin (killed at Jaffna 1556) (How old was he when he died? Did he have children?)

* [Bhuvanekabahu VII ] was permitted additional 2 or 3 Junior wives of the Goi Wansa; and these were given the designation Yakada Doliya (as opposed to the primary Indian wives called Ran Doliya).

While he was alive Bhuvanekabahu sent 2 sons by the Yakada Doliya to India as a strategy to avert war (to get help from India?)………but they both succumbed to smallpox.

After the death of Bhuvanekabahu the king (Vidiya Bandara?) gave a son of the late king to be taken to Goa and be converted to Christianity under the name Dom Joao. (Page 69 ‘Ceylon and the Portuguese’). He later married a Portuguese lady in Goa P. 82.

Vidiya Bandara was a grandson of Sakalakalawalla. On the death of Samudra Devi, Mayadunne, gave in marriage his widowed daughter Maha Tikiri Bandara, to Vidiye Bandara.

9 Pararajasinghe

9 ***MAYADUNNE OF SITAVAKA, b:circa 1490, 1521-1581 AD – Brother of Bhuvaneka Bahu VII, son of Vijaya Bahu VII – He ruled at Sitavaka – a fierce opponent of the Portuguese. He devoted the whole of his life to an attempt to oust his brother King Bhuvaneka Bahu and thereby preserve the independence of Lanka, which was being undermined by the Portuguese intrigue. He made constant invasions on the territory of Bhuvaneka Bahu of Kotte.

Together with his war-like son Tikiri Bandara (Rajasinghe I), he fought many battles with the Portuguese. The greatest battle for national freedom was fought in 1559 on the left bank of the Kelani river (Mulleriyawa). It was one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles in Sinhala history. “blood flows like water” says the old chronicle. The Sinhalese, led by Mayadunne’s son Raja Singha, the Lion Hearted, fought on undismayed and with never-flapping courage. The father and son continued their onslaught on the Portuguese. Mayadunne and his son, whose exceptional military prowess has been recognized and accepted by the Portuguese themselves, launched massive attacks on Kotte, laid siege to it several times, and, almost succeeded in taking it. Finally, the city being badly battered and the Portuguese, unable to withstand the attacks, moved to Colombo in 1565. Mayadunne became master of the greater part of the kingdom of Kotte. He died in 1581 at the ripe age of eighty years.

10 RAJASINGHA I 1554-1593 AD – Son of Mayadunne – King Mayadunne’s son, Tikiri Banda, ascended the throne of Sri Lanka as Rajasinghe I after the death of his father. He fought battles, persecuted Buddhist monks and put to death any suspected of being critical of him.

Sitavaka gained in prestige and its king became the rallying point of the Sinhalese. In the course of a very few years he made himself master of the interior. He captured and annexed Kandy to Sitavaka.

He drove Karaliyadde Bandara, the King of Kandy, a puppet ruler placed on the throne of Kandy by the Portuguese by allying himself with them and giving his sister as queen to Dharmapala of Kotte, into exile. Karaliyadde Bandara, with his queen, their three children and his nephew, fled for safety to the Portuguese. Not satisfied with having driven him away he had perversely set fire to the magnificent Senkadagala Palace. Rajasinghe then placed Vijayasundara Bandara (a Kandyan aristocrat) on the throne in 1587 and later cruelly put him to death, as he was getting popular and powerful. Vijayasundara Bandara’s son, Konappu Bandara, after his fathers assassination, sought refuge with the Portuguese.

Konappu Bandara, who was now a political refugee, was converted to Christianity and was known as Don Juan to the Portuguese. He was sent by them to raise a rebellion against Raja Singha, which he accomplished successfully.

10 [7] Maha Tikiri Adahasin (circ.1552) + [8] VIDHIYA KUMARA BANDARA (Palanda)

11 Suriya Bandara, adopted son of Rajasinha I. King Rajasinha had granted a number of villages including Elapata to Suriya Bandara for having saved him from a charging leopard. + granddaughter of Tennekoon Niththambu Muditha Perumal, King of the Solians (Cholas) who was dispossessed and driven into exle by Marathi invaders. He found a refuge and welcome at Colombo. King Parakrama Bahu VI of Kotte granted him, for support, a group of villagers who included Visidagama and Tudugala. Beginning of the Sixteenth Century.

12 Daughter

12 Bandara (fell into Portuguese hands 1594)

Jayaweera Banda the treasurer of Rajasinghe I declares himself King of Sitavaka for a short time. Later killed by Portuguese after trying to get Kandy. Is this the same person?

13 Tudugala Tennekoon Madduma Rala aka Tudugala Madduma Appuhamy or Dom Pedro (Disava: Born circ:1610) possibly executed by Rajasinghe, The General Driven into exile, 1676

14 Daughter Tudugala Kumarihamy

14 Visidagama Kumarihamy + Edanduwawe

14 Tudugala Appuhamy b:circa 1640, killed (Disava of Sabaragamuva in 1674-5), Tennekoon Appuhamy, was was the Disawe of Sabaragamuwa, was also executed by the King in 1766. + Koralalage Dona Anna de Brito (Kalutara circ:1662, died circa 1680), sister of Kralalage Don Vintura de Brito, who died in 1721. Another member of the family, Nathalia, was married in 1696 to Mudaliyar Sameranayakage Bastian Perera.

15 Tudugalage Don Adriaan

15 Tudugalage Dona Maria

15 Tudugalage Don Christiaan

15 Tudugalage Don Joan + Dissanayakage Dona Geomara of Talangama, m:circa 1690

16 Tudugalage Don Simon, Saffremadu settled in Mullegama + (m:20.1.1722) Dona Joanna Wettesinha

17 Tudugalage Don Louis, bap:27 Jan 1725 + Appolonia d/o Wijemane Mohottige Don Carloe, m:Aug 20 1755

18 Tudugalage Bartholomeus bap: 15.8.1756

18 Tudugalage Janis bap:29.8.1759

18 Tudugalage Maria bap. 7.9.1766

18 Tudugalage Helena bap:18.9.1766

18 Tudugalage Don Andries bap 18.9 1766 + Manamperiralalage Lamahamy, d/o Manamperiralalage Don Louis Appuhamy of Bandaramulla, in the Raigama Korale (m:1791)

19 Tudugalage Don Dinees + Haddagoda Kanangarage Dona Dominga (m:21.2.1814)

20 Tudugalage Sarah b.21.9.1820

20 Tudugalage Hendrick b. 19.3.1831

20 Tudugalage Andries bap:21.2.1814

20 Tudugalage Francisco bap:21.2.1814

20 Tudugalage Bastiam bap:21.2.1814

20 Tudugalage Helonis (or Telenis) b:13.12.1819, lived at Kittanpahuva + Atulugamage Trootje (Torochi) Silva Hamine, of Sedawatte, m:5.12.1840

21 Tudugalage Simon b:11.4.1842

21 Tudugalage Muhandiram Don Philip (Wijewardene) b:10 Aug 1844, abandoned his ancestral village of Tudugala near kalutara, whre his family had been living for many generations, and migrated to his mother's village of Sedawatta near Colombo on the banks of the Kelani river. Hem prospered withi this city by embarkng into a lucrative business of supplying timber, bricks, and sand, for the construction f the Colombo Harbor. He wisely invested his earnings into real estate and property in the city of Colombo. Shortly before his death, at the turn of the century he took the name of WIJEWARDENE, when he was conferred an honor by the British Colonial Government. + Helena Dep Weerasinghe (3084)

22 Tudugalage Don Alexander Wijewardene, b:1881

22 Tudugalage Agnes Helen Wijewardene, b:1882 + Justice E.W. Jayewardene (3002)

22 Tudugalage Don Lewis Wijewardene, b:1883

22 Tudugalage Don Richard Wijewardene, b:1887, founder of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. A very sucessful Sinhala Buddhist of that era.

22 Tudugalage Don Edmond Wijewardene, b:1888

22 Tudugalage Don Charles Wijewardene b:1893

22 Tudugalage Don Walter b. Wijewardene b:1894

22 Tudugalage Don Alberta Wijewardene b:1897

22 Tudugalage Harriet Wijewardene, b:1890 + Dr. A.F. Seneviratne (3108)

23 Nanda Seneviratne

23 Kumari Seneviratne

21 Tudugalage John Cornelis b:5.12.1847

21 Tudugalage Abraham b:10.3.1852

21 Tudugalage Cornelia Sophia b:23.3.1855

17 Tudugalage Maria bap:16.5.1728 died 1747

17 Tudugalage Geomara, bap 17 Apr 1732 + Samanakkodige Joan de Fonceka Sameresundere Seneviratne Muhandiram (aka Johan de Fonseka Samarasundere Seneviratne Samarakkody), b:1725 (3118)

15 Tudugalage Don Louis

15 Tudugalage Muhinduhamy

14 Daughter + Leuke (Lewke?)

15 Appuhamy, was given the Province of Tamankaduwa by King Narendrasingha whi reigned unrighteously at Kundasale and who succeeded King Vimala Dharma Suriya

15 Appuhamy, was given the Province of Batticaloa, along with the office of Mahabadda and Gajanayaka Nilame. Conferred the title of Senarat Mudiyanse and ancestral properties such as Leuke, Arambegama, Madana, and Henapola in the South Korale, Gampaha and Kohovila in the Uva.

16 son, was sicky and weak yet received the office of the three Korales from the King.

15 daughter + Disapathi of the Three Korales, younger brother of the commander-in-chief Molligoda

15 daughter + Banda, grandson of Kirthi Sri Rajasinha

15 daughter

8 2nd Spouse of VIJAYA BAHU VII OF KOTTE, b:circa 1445, 1509-1524 AD + Queen Kiravalle Biso Bandara. (KIRAVALI PRINCESS**)

9 Deva Rajasinghe, born.(b circa 1514)

After the death of Mahabiso Bandara the 1^st Queen, Vijaya Bahu had a 2hd Queen Kiravalle Biso Bandara. From that queen Deva Rajasinghe was born.(b approx 1514)

By this time,the natural succession to become king was of age (sons of 1^st Queen of Vijaya Bahu V1).But under pressure from 2hd queen, Vijaya bahu had to make Deva Rajasinghe as Yuvaraja. The only way was to eliminate the sons of the 1^st queen of Vijayabahu V1. The three brothers had got to know of the plot and had fled. Mayadunne went to Uda Rata. Later Mayadunne and brothers arrive for negotiations with the King.But the king had kept soldiers to kill his sons from the 1^st Queen.

7 year old Deva Rajasinghe (prince),innocently informs his ½ brothers that,soldirs are in hiding. On hearing that Mayadunne and brothers ,fled from the palace.Later they storm back to the palace with a army of men, and ransack the palace.The King Vijayabahu V1 and his 2hd queen become prisoners. The brothers take a decision that the King had to die.But no Sinhalese would do that. It is said that Selamba a Muslim trader had come forward to end Vijayabahu V1.

7 2nd Spouse of VIRA PARAKRAMA BAHU VIII 1466-1489 AD + QUEEN 2

8 RAYIGAMA BANDARA (Rayigama)

8 SAKALAKALA VALLABHA (Udugampola)

9 Kiravali Ralahami’s Daughter = Jaya Vira (Kandy)

10 Gallegama Maha Adahasin + Diyapita Vaddi Maha Adahasin (or Karaliyadda Bandara: or Dom Joan of Kandy)

11 [4] Dona Catharina (her 1^st husband) + Konappu Bandara (or Dom Joan of Austria: Vimala Dharma Suriya 1 Kandy 1591-1604, s/o

s/o Dunuvilabandige, from the Dunuvila family who derive from the true blood of the Kings of Ceylon = Virasundara Bandara (Peradeniya), Rajasinghe I together with his General Wimala Dharmasuriya (Sn) conquers Kandy and appoints his General Wimaladharmasuriya (the father of Konnappubandara) as Governor of Kandy.

(Vickrama Bahu Vl, King and Emperor of Kandy’s daughter married Kiravilla the brother in law of the king of Kotte. Kiravilla’s son- Jayavira Bandara (1551-1561) alias Mahasin "Karaliyadde Bandara, the father of Maha (pata) bandige Kusumasena Devi/Dona Catharina. Yamasinghe Bandara baptised as Don Phillip is her cousin brother. )

(Dona Catherina begets by King Wimala Dharma Suriya I three children, namely a son Mahastene (the legal heir to the throne), two daughters Sunya Mahadasin and Cathan Adsain)

11 [4] Dona Catharina (her 2^nd husband) + 3] Senerat Adahasin (Kandy 1604-35) s/o Dunuvilabandige, from the Dunuvila family who derive from the true blood of the Kings of Ceylon + Henerathami (or Senarat) A rustic Headman from a village called Alutgama in the Asgiriya Division of the Kingdom of Matale

12 Rajasimha II (Kandy 1635 – 1687), Senerath Marries Dona Catherina and begets three sons namely Prince Wijeyapala. PRINCE Kumarasinghe (half brothers of Rajasimha II)and Mahadasin Dona Catherina’s two sons Wijayapala and Kumarasinghe married the daughters of the Singhe dynasty of Jaffna. (Vijayapala dies and Rajasinghe 11 takes over the entire Kingdom ) Cumarasinghe Heriditory ??

13 Wimaladharmasuriya II

14 Sri Weera Parakrama Narendrasinghe 1739, King Narendrasinghe had no issues from his Sinhalese Queens and a princess from India who was the daughter of a Malabar Chief was brought to Kandy as his consort. A brother of the Queen from Malabar, Sri WIJAYA RAJASINGHE, to succeed the king.

Mampitiye Bandara an issue of the King born to a non-royal (Yakada doli) and the two Epas of Uva and Dumbara who had a claim to the throne due to their connections to the royalty were all deprived of their opportunity to succeed to the throne.)

8 TANIVALLA BAHU (Madampe)

9 Maha Biso Bandara alias Komari Lamaethani + Solian Prince

10 Tammita Bala Suriya Bandara, (Senkadagala throne as Rajasuriya, killed 1581 by Tikiri Bandara (Tikiri Kumaraya- Rajasingha of Sitawaka – ‘son’ of Mayadunne ….begotten by Sumana Devi, the Chief Queen of Mayadunne)

11 Nikapitiya Bandara, (Suceeded Rajasinha re. Sitawaka Kingdom 1592?? Senkedegala??) as Rajasuriya Converted as Don Philip. Died in Portugal(Maha Biso Bandara had given the throne to her grandson Nikapitiya Bandara) +

10 [1] VIDHIYA KUMARA BANDARA (Grandson of Sakkalavalla) (Palanda) 1538 / of Madampe (his Great Grandsons were Tennekoon Mudiyanse and Tennekoon Maddumaralla who distinguished themselves as General's in King Rajasinghe II's army. But that success also led, as in many other instances in Rajasinghe's time, to their downfall. Tennekoon Mudiyanse was driven into exile and his brother imprisoned and probably executed. Maddumaralla's son, Tennekoon Appuhamy, was was the Disawe of Sabaragamuwa, was also executed by the King in 1766. However, his wife and children, who were residing then in the Dutch Provinces, prospered and the family history was traced through he Dutch records and land thombus, a register containing particulars regarding land ownership established during Dutch rule.) + [2] Samudra Devi (killed by Vidhiya Bandara)

11 Vijayapala Adahasin (killed at Jaffna 1556)

10 2nd spouse of [8] VIDHIYA KUMARA BANDARA (Palanda) + [7] Suriya Devi Maha Tikiri Adahasin m:circa 1552

11 Suriya Bandara, adopted son of Rajasinha I. King Rajasinha had granted a number of villages including Elapata to Suriya Bandara for having saved him from a charging leopard. + granddaughter of Tennekoon Niththadu Madinna Perumal, King of the Solians who was dispossessed and driven into exle by Marathi invaders. Hefound a refug and welcome at Colombo. King Parakrama Bahu VI of Kotte granted him, for support, a group of villagers who included Visidagama and Tudugala. Beginning of the Sixteenth Century.

12 Menik Biso Bandara + Harineshwara Bandara

13 Don Maria Pereira (only daughter ) + Sinhao Pinhao, the Portugese Captain, who captured Jaffna in 1591

12 Bandara (fell into Portuguese hands 1594)

Jayaweera Banda the treasurer of Rajasinghe I declares himself King of Sitavaka for a short time. Later killed by Portuguese after trying to get Kandy. Is this the same person?

13 Tudugala Tennekoon Madduma Rala aka Tudugala Madduma Appuhamy or Dom Pedro (Disava: Born circ:1610) possibly executed by Rajasinghe, The General Driven into exile, 1676

14 Daughter Tudugala Kumarihamy

14 Visidagama Kumarihamy + Edanduwawe

15 Tudugalage Don Adriaan

15 Tudugalage Dona Maria

15 Tudugalage Don Christiaan

15 Tudugalage Don Joan + Dissanayakage Dona Geomara of Talangama, m:circa 1690

16 Tudugalage Don Simon, Saffremadu settled in Mullegama + (m:20.1.1722) Dona Joanna Wettesinha

17 Tudugalage Don Louis, bap:27 Jan 1725 + Appolonia d/o Wijemane Mohottige Don Carloe, m:Aug 20 1755

18 Tudugalage Bartholomeus bap: 15.8.1756

18 Tudugalage Janis bap:29.8.1759

18 Tudugalage Maria bap. 7.9.1766

18 Tudugalage Helena bap:18.9.1766

18 Tudugalage Don Andries bap 18.9 1766 + Manamperiralalage Lamahamy, d/o Manamperiralalage Don Louis Appuhamy of Bandaramulla, in the Raigama Korale (m:1791)

19 Tudugalage Don Dinees + Haddagoda Kanangarage Dona Dominga (m:21.2.1814)

20 Tudugalage Sarah b.21.9.1820

20 Tudugalage Hendrick b. 19.3.1831

20 Tudugalage Andries bap:21.2.1814

20 Tudugalage Francisco bap:21.2.1814

20 Tudugalage Bastiam bap:21.2.1814

20 Tudugalage Helonis (or Telenis) b:13.12.1819, lived at Kittanpahuva + Atulugamage Trootje (Torochi) Silva Hamine, of Sedawatte, m:5.12.1840

21 Tudugalage Simon b:11.4.1842

22 Tudugalage Don Alexander Wijewardene, b:1881

22 Tudugalage Agnes Helen Wijewardene, b:1882 + Justice E.W. Jayewardene (3002)

22 Tudugalage Don Lewis Wijewardene, b:1883

22 Tudugalage Don Richard Wijewardene, b:1887, founder of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. A very sucessful Sinhala Buddhist of that era.

22 Tudugalage Don Edmond Wijewardene, b:1888

22 Tudugalage Don Charles Wijewardene b:1893

22 Tudugalage Don Walter b. Wijewardene b:1894

22 Tudugalage Don Alberta Wijewardene b:1897

22 Tudugalage Harriet Wijewardene, b:1890 + Dr. A.F. Seneviratne (3108)

23 Nanda Seneviratne

23 Kumari Seneviratne

21 Tudugalage John Cornelis b:5.12.1847

21 Tudugalage Abraham b:10.3.1852

21 Tudugalage Cornelia Sophia b:23.3.1855

17 Tudugalage Maria bap:16.5.1728 died 1747

17 Tudugalage Geomara, bap 17 Apr 1732 + Samanakkodige Joan de Fonceka Sameresundere Seneviratne Muhandiram (aka Johan de Fonseka Samarasundere Seneviratne Samarakkody), b:1725 (3118)

15 Tudugalage Don Louis

15 Tudugalage Muhinduhamy

14 Daughter + Leuke (Lewke?)

15 Appuhamy, was given the Province of Tamankaduwa by King Narendrasingha whi reigned unrighteously at Kundasale and who succeeded King Vimala Dharma Suriya

16 son, was sicky and weak yet received the office of the three Korales from the King.

15 daughter + Disapathi of the Three Korales, younger brother of the commander-in-chief Molligoda

15 daughter + Banda, grandson of Kirthi Sri Rajasinha

15 daughter

8 [6] SRI RAJASINHA (Manikkadavara) + Kiravali Princess

10 Bhuvanekabahu VII (Kotte 1521 – 1551)

11 [2] Samudra Devi + [1] VIDHIYA KUMARA BANDARA (Grandson of Sakkalavalla) (Palanda) 1538 / of Madampe (his Great Grandsons were Tennekoon Mudiyanse and Tennekoon Maddumaralla who distinguished themselves as General's in King Rajasinghe II's army. But that success also led, as in many other instances in Rajasinghe's time, to their downfall. Tennekoon Mudiyanse was driven into exile and his brother imprisoned and probably executed. Maddumaralla's son, Tennekoon Appuhamy, was was the Disawe of Sabaragamuwa, was also executed by the King in 1766. However, his wife and children, who were residing then in the Dutch Provinces, prospered and the family history was traced through he Dutch records and land thombus, a register containing particulars regarding land ownership established during Dutch rule.)

12 DON JUAN DHARMAPALA, B:CIRCA 1515, 1551-1597 AD – Grandson of King Bhuvaneka Bahu VII, son of Vidiya Bandara – On the death of Bhuvaneka Bahu, his grandson Dharmapala, Vidiya Bandara’s son, was officially proclaimed king. Puppet of the Portuguese, converted to Catholicism from Buddhism. + DONA CATHARINA

12 Vijayapala Adahasin (killed at Jaffna 1556)

2 Parakrama Bahu VI, 1410-1462, 3rd son of Chandra Bhanu, Prince named Sepanana (Jayapala) descended from Parakrama Bahu, the third son of Chandra Banu of Yapa Patuna (Jaffnapatnam), and whose mother, Sunethradevi, was a daughter of the daughter of Parakrama Bahu V of Dedigama –

The Uralawatte family is also supposed to be direct descendants of Bhuvanekabahu VII. Research is under way re. finding proper genealogy facts/documents etc. If anyone has information pertaining to this, please contact sgenweb @gmail.com. The Uralawatte family branch fits in the Tudugala family somehow. Any information is much appreciated…..esp. from relatives). Past Sri Lankan newspapers did apparently have some key information.

Bradman Weerakoon's "Rendering unto Caesar" states, on page 213/214 under the heading "The Monarchical Tradition":-

quote

J R Jayawardene liked to trace his origins back to 300 years to a family known as the Tudugala's. To the name Tudugala was added the name Wijewardene on the confirment of a British honor at the beginning of the 20th century. JR's interest in history and lineage wa pervasive. When he became the first Executive President of Sri Lanka in 1978, he used to take pride in saying that he was the last in the line of rulers of the island in an unbroken succession dating back over 2500 years.

When JR was Minister of State in the Dudley Senanayake Government of 1965-70, a former Government Archivist, H O Paulusz, was requested to publish a book on the Tudugala family. This contains an interesting history of JR's mother's ancestors.

The Tudugala saga goes back to the 17th century when two brothers, Tennekoon Mudiyanse and Tennekoon Maddumaralla, both great grandsons of Prince Vidiya Bandara distinguished themselves as General's in King Rajasinghe II's army. But that success also led, as in many other instances in Rajasinghe's time, to their downfall.

Tennekoon Mudiyanse was driven into exile and his brother imprisoned and probably executed. Maddumaralla's son, Tennekoon Appuhamy, was was the Disawe of Sabaragamuwa, was also executed by the King in 1766. However, his wife and children, who were residing then in the Dutch Provinces, prospered and the family history was traced through he Dutch records and land thombus, a register containing particulars regarding land ownership established during Dutch rule.

There are records of Don Philip Tudugala who was born in 1804 in the village of Tudugala, near Kalutara. Don Philip, who was the founder of the modern branch of the family came to live in Colombo, in the village of Sedawatte on the banks of the Kelani ganga (river). He soon became one of the richest Sinhalese merchants of the time.

It was building boom time in the city of Colombo, after the construction of the harbor breakwater, and Don Peter Tudugala prospered from the city's development, supplying timber, sand, and bricks which came down the Kelani ganga to Sedawatte. He invested his income in real estate and took on the name of Wijewardene, when conferred with an honor by the British government.

Don Philip left behind seven sons and two daughters. Among them were DC and DR --- DC, the author of the "Revolt in the Temple", DR (Don Richard), the founder of the Lake House and the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. The others achieved distinction in commerce and other professions.

His eldest daughter married a Jayawardene, who became a Justice. JR (Junius Richard) was his son. Helena Dep Weerasinghe, the widow of Don Philip Tudugala and JR's grandmother, was the benefactor of the ancient vihare, the Rajamaha Vihara of kelaniya. The influx of the family wa paramount in the area, and when JR got interested in politics, it was only natural that he chose Kelaniya as his constituency.

unquote

Dona Catherina: the last empress of Lanka

(By A. Denis N. Fernando, Former President of the Royal Asciatic Society/The Island)

1. The Kingdom of Kotte was established by Parakrama Bahu Vl (1473-1480) who was also Emperor of Ceylon. The Kingship devolved on King Dharmapala (1557-1597).

2. The Kandyan Kingdom was established as an autonomous Kingdom in 1474 under Vickrama Bahu Vl, King and Emperor of Kotte. Vickrama Bahu broke away and established himself as King of Kandy. Vickrama Bahu gave his daughter in marriage to Kiravilla the brother in Law of the King of Kotte. Kiravilla’s son Karaliedde Bandara was also known as Mahaadasin to the throne of Kandy.

3. The Portuguese first made contact with Ceylon accindentaly when in ISOS Admiral Lorenzo De Almeida landed here by strong monsoonal winds but did not enter into any formal treaty. However, about 5 decades later the Portuguese came here to establish a factory in Colombo in the time of King Dharmapala.

4. With the coming of the Portuguese the King of Kotte, nobles and warriors were converted to the Catholic faith and adoption of Portuguese, titles and names after conversion. Dharmapala was baptised as Don Juan Dharmapala.

5. Mayadunne and Rajasinghe I of Sitawaka raised a rebellion against the Portuguese.

6. Mahasin, Karaliadde Bandara the father of Kusumasena Devi fled Kandy with his wife and child as well as his nephew Yamasinghe Bandara for safety to Trincomalee as there was an attempt to capture his Kingdom by Rajasinghe I. It is said that at Trincomalee he and his wife was affected by smallpox and died. Both Yamasinghe and infant Kusumasena Devi were advised to beseech the aid of Catholic Nuns in Mannar for succour. Yamasinghe was baptised as Don Phillip and Maha (pata) bandige Kusumasena Devi was baptised as Dona Catherina.

7. Rajasinghe I together with his General Wimala Dharmasuriya (Sn) conquers Kandy and appoints his General Wimaladharmasuriya (the father of Konnappubandara) as Governor of Kandy.

8. Subsequently King Rajasinghe I who was a diehard convert to Hinduism had ordered the Governor of Kandy to destroy the Buddhist Monks in Kandy. He did not carry out the orders and he knew what would happen to him, so he sent his wife and son over to the Portuguese in Mannar. And reported to Rajasinghe I Sithawaka, where he was martyored by Rajasinghe I by stoning him to death for not carrying out his orders. (see Pg 669 Baldeus

9. General Wimaladharma Suriya’s son who was known as Konnappubandara’ was baptized as Don John of Austria.

10. Both Don Phillip and Don John were trained in warfare in Goa by the Portuguese while Dona Catherina was named in the niceties of Royal etiquette and court craft.

11. The Portuguese decide to Conquer Kandy with Don Phillip to be installed as King with Don John as his General, who were both expected to marry Portuguese wives, so that they could have a control over them and were taken to Mannar for the expedition.

l2. The Portuguese advanced an expedition to Kandy to conquer it with Portuguese General Pedro Lopenz and conquered Kandy and Don Phillip was installed as King, when after a while he was poisoned by his General Don John of Austria who took over the reigns as King of Kandy better known as Wimaladharma Suriya l uses the Portuguese Captives to reconstruct his Fortress in Kandy and his palace.

13. Rajasinghe I attacks Kandy but is routed by Wimaladharma Suriya 1 (Don John of Austria) and returns to Seethawaka and dies. Jayaweera Banda the Treasurer of Rajasinghe I declares himself King of Seethawaka.

14. Jayaweera Banda conspires with the Portuguese to conquer Kandy, with the hidden intention of marrying Dona Catherina and become undisputed Emperor.

15. Dona Catherina leaves Mannar with the Portuguese General Pedro to be installed as Empress of Ceylon in Kandy. The pole of the Palanquin in which Dona Catherina is carried breaks. This is considered as a bad omen by Donna Catherina, but General Pedro Lopes with her not to be superstitutious and they decide to proceed to Kandy on the Expedition.

16. The joint forces of the Portuguese and Jayaweera Banda takes over Kandy which was tactfully deserted by Wimaladharma Suriya and installs Dona Catherina as Empress.

17. There are strained feelings between General Pedro Lopes and Jayaweera Bandaas Pedro Lopes refuses to give into the intentions of Jayaweera Banda to marry Dona Catherina.

18. Wimaladharmasuriya I adopts Guerrilla Tactics and attacks Kandy, with the support of disgruntled Jayaweera who is promised by Don John to give him the lower Kingdom.

19. The Portuguese are routed and Dona Catherina captured and Wimala Dharma Suriya I marries her and becomes the undisputed Emperor of Ceylon with Empress Dona Catherina as Queen.

20. Jayaweera Banda is murdered by the Portuguese.

21. Dona Catherina begets by King Wimala Dharma Suriya I three children, namely a son Mahaasstane (the legal heir to the throne), two daughters Sunya Mahadasin and Cathan Adsain and lives in the old Palace in the premises of the present Kataragama Devale where the Palace Complex was within inner Fortress as indicated in the old Portuguese Maps as well as the French but copied mirror reversed by Spilbergen in 1602, (see Map)

22. The well known Perahera of the four devales of Kataragama, Vishnu, Natha and Pattini was established at that time.

23. Demise of Wimala Dharma Suriya I and Dona Catherina takes over as regent to her son Mahaastenne who is heir to the Kingdom.

24. Senerath Marries Dona Catherina and begets three sons namely Prince Wijepala. PRINCE Kumarasinghe and Mahadasin.

25. Death of Heraditory Imperial Prince Mahastanne on 23rd August 1612. Dona Catherina suspects Senarath of Murdering him.

26. Cremation Scene of Mahastenne at Mahiyawa (it is said the ashes of Mahastenne was brought by Dona Catherina to Welimantotta (in Kegalle) where the urn was kept within the Palace, which the Archaeology Dept. had found in the excavation of the Palace.

27. During this time she was also carrying another child by Senarath, However during her visits to Kandy she is reputed to have stayed in the Guest House in the Centre of the Present Kandy Lake (in the days of Senarath it was a paddy field)

28. While at Welimantota she fell deliriously ill and summoned Prince of Migonne (Marcellus de Boschhouwer) and the Prince of Ouver (Kuruwitarala) and gave special custody of all her children and died, while incanting Catholic Prayers on 20th July 1613 at the age of 35.

29. Donna Catherina was buried on 21st July 1613 with all Honours due to an Empress with Roman Catholic rites at her Palace Premises at Welimantota. It is believed that she was buried dressed in her Royal Regellia including a Pearl Rosary round her hands and the Bible beside 29. The Moseleum was built by the Prince of Ouva (Kuruwitarala) entombing herein a masolieum and a oil lamp was lit perpetually in her memory till recently.

30. Senarath falls sick and summons the Council to decide on the Succession. Prince of Migonne (Marcellus de Boschhouwer) and the Prince of Ouva (Kuruwitarala) appoints Regents of Cumarasinghe Heriditory Prince during his minority with full authority (pa 694) to govern the relm and chosen for so great a task. In case of his death other princes to follow according to custom.

31. Battle of Randeniya Commanded by Prince Wijepala and others against the Portuguese. Portuguese Governor Constantine de Saa falls in battle, when the Negombo troops under Constantine de Saa went over to the King of Kandy on a prearranged signal and the Portuguese were routed. There is a Memorial to this event. (Incidentally when I gave the road trace for the construction of the Ella Wellawaya Road l made it a point to see that this road passes through this historical site)

32. Senarath Dies in 1632 and left the Empire between his three sons. Ouva to Vijayapala his eldest, Matale to Kumarasinghe and Kandy to Mahastane the youngest who later became King under the imperial name of Rajasinghe II.

33. Vijapala dies and Rajasinghe 11 takes over the entire Kingdom.

34. It is in this background that Fr. Joseph Vaz was allowed by Wimaladharma Suriya II to build a Church in Kandy where Fr. Joseph Vaz was subsequently buried in the tie of Narendrasinghe. Later the Church was destroyed in 1745 but his remains lie there yet as the ground where he was buried was not disturbed.

35. Using old Portuguese Maps and field research I was able to locate the Ancient Fortress of Wimaladharma Suriya I till the time of Narendrasinghe which also indicates the Guest House where Donna Catherina used to occupy when she had strained relations with King Senarath which was in the centre of a paddy field which has now been converted to the Kandy Lake. While during my research visits to Kandy in 1990 I was fortunate to get at the level of the old Bogambara Wewa and with further soil brings I was able to determine its level as l320 ft m.s.1. from which I determined the level of the old Bogambara wewa and was able to determine the site of the old church of Fr. Joseph Vaz.

36. Regarding the Burial Site of DONA CATHERINA. This site of 7 Acres was declared an Archaeological site by H. C. P. Bell the first Archaeological Commissioner and is mentioned in Bells Kegalle Report. Unfortunately the subsequent head of the Archaeological Department has in his ignorance or in their endeavour to please certain influential parties had decided to declare only a small part of it of about half an acre or 80 perches, as an Archaeological Site even at the protests of not only the then Government Agent Mr. L. U. C. Kuruppu and the citizens of Kegalle. Now it appears persons are allowed to encroach and build on this SACRED BURIAL SlTE of our Last Empress of Sri Lanka. This is a National Calamity, sacrilege and desecration and deserves the Condemnation of all Citizens of the Country as it is the heritage of our Country.

WWW Virtual Library - Sri Lanka

The Kingdom of Sitavaka 1521-1594

map.jpg (13348 bytes) Sitavaka came into being on the failure of a conspiracy to deprive the throne to the legitimate heirs of Vijayabahu VI of Kotte (1513- 1521).

A century earlier, Kotte had Parakramabahu the VI (1411-1466), the last great ruler of the island. He was king emperor not in its just de jure concept, but as a most powerful de Facto ruler.

As it often happens after the reign of a powerful ruler, the period after Parakramabahu, saw the commencement of the gradual decline of the kingdom. It began with the ascent of Parakramabahu’s grandson to the throne, as Jayavira Parakramabahu (1466-1469). That accession was contested by Sapumal Kumaraya, Parakramabahu’s brother, who marched from Yapapatuna - which he had subdued and was ruling there-dethroned Jayavira, did him to death, and ascended the throne as Buvanekabahu the VI (1469-1477).

The dethronement of Jayavira, accentuated the factions within the kingdom, and led to an uprising known as the Sinhala Sange or Sinhala Peraliya. It is thought that one cause for the uprising would have been the influx of many Tamils who would have come with Sapumal from Yapapatuna, and occupied responsible positions in Kotte. The Sinhala Sange was put down by Ambulugala, Buvanekabahu’s brother, and thereafter the king diplomatically placated the rebels, as a means of keeping his kingdom secure.

The succession after Buvanekabahu too created problems. The ascent to the throne of his son, or as said, his adopted son, known by the throne name of Pandita Parakramabahu (1477), was immediately contested by Ambulugala Raja, the then Yuvaraja, or heir apparent. That contest led to the death of Pandita, and the ascent of Ambulugala Raja, as Vira Parakramabahu VIII (1477-1489).

As fFar as succession contests were concerned, it ended for the time being with Vira Parakramabahu’s accession. He had 5 sons from 2 queens, namely, Buvanekabahu, Sri Rajasinha and Vijayabahu from the chief queen and Sakakalavalla and Taniyavalla from the second queen.

Thus, after Vira Parakramabahu, his eldest son Buvanekabahu ascended the throne as Dharma Parakramabahu IX (1489-1513) After him, Vijayabahu ascended the throne as Vijayabahu VI (1513-1521), as his elder brother, Rajasinha, had died, and Sakalkalavalla had refused the honour.

Brothers, Rajasinha and Vijayabahu, when at Manikkadavara, had cohabited with Anula Kahatuda, later, known as Kiravalle Maha Biso Bandara. She had begotten them four sons, namely, Maha Rayigam Bandara, Bovanekabahu, Pararajasinha and Mayadunne.

After the death of Maha Biso Bandara, Vijayabahu, new king of Kotte, had contracted a second marriage from the same Kiravalle family; she was known as Kiravalle Biso Bandara. With her, had come a little boy -her son- named Deva Rajasinha, who, unknown to him, would be the cause of a major calamity in the kingdom.

With the death of Sakalakalavalla, Vijayabahu’s half-brother, who was the Yuvaraja at Udugampola, the second queen desired to make Deva Rajasinha, still seven years, the Yuvaraja i.e. heir apparent.

A delicate situation

With that request arose a delicate situation. The sons from the first queen -Kiravalle Maha Biso Bandara- were now of age, and were the natural successors to that position. But, Vijayabahu, apparently under pressure, acquiesced to make Deva Rajasinha, the Yuvaraja.

To that end, there was only one way out. The legitimate heirs to that position had to be eliminated. The matter was highly explosive, and had to be carefully worked out. The king and queen conspired with two officials, Kandure Bandara and Ekanayake Mudaliya to plan the strategy.

Going against custom, and hatching a diabolical plot in secrecy, was not a sure recipe for success. The three brothers, having come to know of the plot, first fled to the Kelaniya temple, and then through Boralessa to Migomuva or Negombo. From there, Mayadunne, the youngest, went to Uda Rata, and sought the help of Jayavira (1511-1552) to foil the plot of their father, the king, to gain their rightful place.

Jayavira, who had succeeded Senasammata Vikramabahu (1474 — 1511), had married Mayadonne’s cousin, i.e. Kiravalle Maha Biso Bandara’s brother, Kiravalle Maha Palahamy’s daughter. Further, Jayavira too, surreptitiously, and as and when opportunity arose, was carving out his power base in the Uda Rata. Thus, with blood relationships on the one side, and sensing an opportunity to weaken Kotte, on the other side, he readily obliged, and provided an army from the Four Korales.

With that support, Mayadunne, on his way to Kotte, camped at Kelaniya until the arrival of his brothers. There at messengers were received from Kotte seeking peace and direct talks with the king. The brothers agreed to negotiate, but on condition that Kandure Bandara and Ekanayake Mudaliya, the accomplices to the plot are surrendered. There being no alternative, the demand was acceeded to.

The brothers, after seeing that Kandure Bandara paid the highest penalty for his crime - Ekanayake Mudaliya having escaped and fled to safety - went to the palace, as per agreement for negotiations with the king, their father.

In the meantime, the king had placed guards in hiding at the palace, with instructions to bar the doers after the entry of the princes - his own sons- to ensure their final disposal. But, as fate would have it, the 7 year old Deva Rajasinha, in his innocence, informed Mayadunne, of the soldiers in hiding.

On hearing what the young prince had said, the three brothers stormed out of the inner city ‘Etul Kotte’, and immediately thereafter, ordered the army to invade the palace and loot it. The king’s forces too, not with the king, joined the rest in the ransacking. The king and queen who were upstairs in the palace, were held prisoners there.

The decision was taken: the king had to die. It is said, that no Sinhalese would execute the deed, and thus, it was a man named Selamba, of unknown identity, or a Salman, a Moslim trader, who had come forward to see the end of Vijayabahu. The conspiracy having failed, the king paid for it with his life. It is that event which has come to be known as the ‘Vijayaba Kollaya’.

After the death of Vijayabahu, people acclaimed, the eldest, Buvanekabahu [VII], as king at Kotte (1521-1557). Pararajasinha, was assigned Rayigama, Walallawiti and Pasyodun Korales, and Mayadunne was given Sitavaka, Denavaka and the four Korales. Nothing is known of the fate of Prince Deva Rajasinha, or of Kiravalle Biso Bandara.

Thus, in 1521, came into existence the princedom of Sitavaka destined to write a brief and inconclusive, but a proud chapter in the long annals of Sri Lankan history.

Mayadunne (1521-1581), now of Sitavaka, was the ablest of the three brothers. He soon aspired to the overlordship of the island: i.e. to be king of Kotte.

The political scenario at the time had seen three other centres wielding power. They were, the nascent power base of Senkadagalapura in the Uda Rata, Yapapatuna in the North, exercising a limited jurisdiction in the peninsula since about the 13th century, and the Portuguese in the just established (1518) fortelessa in Colombo.

Buvanekabahu’s main concern on his accession, was to watch the Portuguese, the new and dangerous arrival in the scene, and to see that Senkadagalapura was kept in check. That would be the concern of Mayadunne as well.

In pursuing his ambition, Mayadunne, not only started harassing Kotte but also threw his attention on the Portuguese at Colombo. But, the Portuguese, were different from the inland rivals. They not only had their gun-power and trained soldiers in warfare, but also could draw support from their possessions in the south of India. Additionally, they were the naval power of repute at the time.

Within the immediate confines of the Kotte kingdom, Sitavaka made use of an early opportunity to enlarge its territory. That happened when it unilaterally annexed the territory of Rayigam Bandara, on his untimely death in 1538. Buvanekabahu, acknowledging a fait accompli, formally assigned that princedom to him, and averted a conflict.

On Sitavaka harassing Kotte, Buvanekabahu allied himself with the Portuguese. That was the beginning of its later alienation with the populace, and the prelude to foregoing its legitimacy as the acknowledged sovereign of the island. The beneficiary of it would be Sitavaka.

In the alienation of Kotte, the role of the missionaries was significant. They spared no pains or means in seeking converts to their faith, for the greater glory of their God. The adverse repercussions of such conversions in the country was not seen only by those who benefited by such action. The constant pressure they brought on Buvanekabahu himself to adopt Christianity, was only adding fuel to the fire.

All this made Sitavaka the centre de resistance, not only for the political salvation of the country, but for the survival of its culture and civilization as well.

As the picture unfolds, the energies of Sitavaka were at first directed against Buvanekabahu, and then against the Portuguese. Sometime around 1526, on the seizure of two Mocrish vessels by the Portuguese, and the killing of some Moors with the assistance of a Salappu Arachchi, the Moors on land sought and received refuge at Sitavaka. Thus he befriended an ally, who would be useful to him in the future.

Accordingly, in 1536, Mayadunne, together with the assistance received from the Samorin of Calicut, directed his first attack on Colombo. The inconclusive result of that attack, would be repeated many a time during Sitavaka’s existence.

Inter-domain, Sitavaka’s relations with Kotte deteriorated further, when Buvanekabahu gave his daughter, Samudra Devi, in marriage to Vidiye Bandara of Madampe, a man of repute and ability, and a grandson of Sakalakalawalla. As far as Mayadunne was concerned, the consequences of that marriage became further aggravated, when Buvanekabahu nominated Dharmapala, the elder son from the union between Vidiye Bandara and Samudra Devi, as his successor.

Buvanekabahu, fully aware that his nominee will be contested on accession, sought the help of the Portuguese, to provide him with the necessary military support. To that end, he got a golden effigy of the prince sent to Portugal, to be crowned as his successor, thus assuring that military support would not fail in time of need.

The image of Dharmapala sent to Portugal, was crowned in 1541, in Lisbon, with great pomp and pageantry. With that the chance of Mayadunne, legally succeeding Buvanekabahu was sealed. To all concerned, it would have been apparent, if not certain, that, Dharmapala would be a puppet in the hands of the Portuguese.

Now, matters turned in a devious way. The activities of the ambitious Vidiye Bandara led to a curious alliance between Mayadunne and the Portuguese. And, their combined forces, i.e. Mayadunnes’s and that of the Portuguese, battled Vidiye Bandara on two occasions, namely in 1548 and in 1555. Such alliances between the Sinhalese and the Portuguese, were hastily made and hastily abandoned.

Even in the midst of animosity, Vidiye Bandara, had been a desirable son-in-law to any king. Thus, on the death of Samudra Devi, Mayadunne, gave in marriage his widowed daughter Maha Tikiri Bandara, to Vidiye Bandara. But the cordiality thus established, was short lived. Although in 1550 Buvanekabahu and the Portuguese had razed the capital city of Sitavaka, Mayadunne, allied with the Portuguese in 1555 to attack his stronghold at Pelenda, which he had established after his union with Maha Tikiri Bandara.

It was at that battle, that the young ‘son’ of Mayadunne, called Tikiri Bandara or Tikiri Kumaraya, had first distinguished himself in the battlefield, and was called ‘Rajasinha’.

It is said, that Tikiri Kumaraya or Rajasinha, was fathered by Petiyagoda Patta Mestri Sinhala Kirti Rajapakse Bhatirajja Vanniyar Mudiyanse Disava, residing in the palace, and was begotten by Sumana Devi, the Chief Queen of Rajasinha. It is also said that it had been a known fact, as much as his physique, ability, military prowess, intellect and bravery.

Thus, at Pelenda, Vidiye Bandara, had met his match. In the face of defeat at the hands of young Tikiri, he withdrew - from the battlefield, and taking a circuitous route reached Udarata, where he was ‘politically’ welcome by Karalliyadde Bandara (1552-1582), who had succeeded Jayavira (1511-1552).

From there, he twice attacked Sitavaka, but at the last engagement at Mudukondapela he once again deserted the army, and fled the battlefield. Soon after he ended up at Yapapatuna, and it is said, that at the Nallur kovil where, some gun-powder had been accidentally set alight, being mistaken for gun-shots, or as Trindade says, due to the riches he had, a fight ensued, and, both he and his younger son Wijayapala, was killed at that place.

In the meantime, the Portuguese had successfully converted Jayavira, the first among the Sinhala kings to succumb to politico- missionary pressure. Thereafter, in 1557 they succeeded with Dharmapala (1551-1597). Thus, what they failed with Buvanekabahu, they achieved with his grandson. On baptism, Dharmapala, not only took the name of Don Joao, but also confiscated all temple land and gave them to the Franciskans; that included the Daladage at Kotte and the Maha Vihare at Kelaniya. The alienation of the reigning Sinhala king with his people, was complete. In popular acceptance, Mayadunne became the King of the land.

Between 1557 and 1565, Mayadunne and his son Rajasinha besieged Kotte several times. The Portuguese, unable to depend, both Kotte and Colombo, abandoned Kotte in 1565, and Dharmapala, moved with all his valuables and retinue to Colombo. For all practical purposes the suzerainity of Kotte had come to an end. Sitavaka became the acknowledged capital of the people.

Now, Sitavaka concentrated on two fronts: one on Colombo, and the other on Senkadagalapura. With that, diplomacy and treachery, came to work at its optimum against Sitavaka, in concert with Kandy and Colombo.

Queyroz, as well as Sinhala records state that Mayadunne abdicated in May 1578/1580 in favour of Rajasinha (1580/1593), and thereby, the latter became the de facto successor, to the Kotte kingdom. But, the de jure position remained with Dharmapala in Colombo, by virtue of the nomination of the latter by Buvanekabahu, and supported by the alien Portuguese power in the island.

The Chulavamsa statement that Rajasinha was a parricide is contradicted by Queyroz, and other contemporary Sinhala works, and has also been effectively disproved by all scholars of this period.

On Rajasinha’s accession to Sitavaka, he continued to lay siege on Kandy. If Dharmapala had alienated his position of being the rightful ruler of the land, by his conversion to Catholicism, Karalliyadde, a grandson of Senasammata Vikramabahu, was in the same plight after his conversion, which is dated to sometime between 1562 and 1564. Thus, when Rajasinha invaded Kandy in 1582, Karalliyadde fled his kingdom.

Sitavaka was now at the apex of its power. It had taken over the territory of Kotte, and now of Senkadagalapura. Only Colombo, the seat of the Portuguese, and of Dharmapala, lay between his virtual possession of the Kotte kingdom and his aspiration for the overlordship of the island.

Thus, Rajasinha, after his expedition against Colombo in 1579- 1581, once again mounted an attack between 1587 and 1588. Brilliant as these campaigns were, yet they failed to achieve their objectives. Portuguese succour from its Indian possessions, and Rajasinha’s inability to control the seas, and perhaps the better trained soldiery of the Portuguese against that of his, led to his disappointment. In both occasions he nearly succeeded, but unfortunately, success eluded him.

If the Kandyans were piqued by Karalliyadde’s embracing of Catholicism, Rajasinha’s acceptance of Hinduism and his ravage of Buddhist temples and its clergy, together with his latter day intemperate behaviour led the Kandyans to seek another ruler for themselves. That desire of their’s was strangely enough, fulfilled with the aid of the Portuguese. They, with Kanappu Bandara as Commander-in-Chief of their force sent another Catholic prince, Don Philip Yamasinghe Bandara, a nephew of Karalliyadde, and placed him on the throne.

Due to that Portuguese intervention in Kandy, which received support from some sections of its people, Rajasinha, in 1593, once again invaded Kandy. If Vidiye Bandara had met his match in Rajasinha, Rajasinha met his match in Konappu Bandara, at the Balana pass. The latter successfully defended the entry to Kandy, and Rajasinha retired.

Konappu Bandara or Dom John of Austria, who turned tables on the Portuguese and became Vimaladharmasuriya, was a son of Virasundara Bandara, who had been done to death by Rajasinha. To his innate ability, he had added the experience in war and strategy under the Portuguese. In time, he will be another name to reckon with in the lineage of Sinhala kings.

Thus, Rajasinha’s attempted invasion of Kandy was to be his last military expedition. As disunity among the Sinhalese would have it, his last battle was against another Sinhala centre of power. And, Rajasinha failed. On his retreat, it is said that he had the misfortune of a bamboo splinter pricking his foot at Petangeda, and shortly after, he breathed his last.

If Rajasinha’s birth is seen to have had a fault, his end is certainly seem to be tragic. According to the Sitavaka Rajasinha Rajakalaya (1599) Rajasinha’s daughter Menik Biso Bandara from his chief queen Dedampegei Malvati, had a son named Rajasuriya, by a Cola prince.

According to the above source, the wound in the king’s foot was caused by a blow from the followers of Rajasurya, and in the guise of treating the wound, Dodamvela Ganitaya, through his accomplice named Peduru, had poisoned it. The background to it, is said to be that Rajasurya was having an affair with Dodamvela Ganitaya’s daughter, and hastening the death of Rajasinha, would benefit both Rajasurya and the Ganitaya.

Whether the wound was caused by a blow, or as is better and popularly known by the pricking of a bamboo, its poisoning is seen to be the cause of death.

If Sitavaka had commenced on a note of conspiracy and tragedy, its end is seen to be in defeat and remorse, and the repetition of conspiracy and tragedy.

During its brief existence of a little over a three quarters of a century, it forcefully stamped its presence in the island, due to the brilliance of its two rulers. The dominating factor seen during the period was the machinations of the Portuguese in the affairs of the three centres of power, i.e. Kotte, Kandy and Sitavaka. With sword and bible in either hand, they were willing accomplices in the internal power struggle among the Sinhalese. Supporting one or the other, as it would suit them best, the Portuguese fulfilled the wishes of their king and Church with territorial acquisitions, and conversions in both Kotte and Kandy! they failed only in Sitavaka.

Only if the fractured parts of the Kotte kingdom, could have acted in concert with the one purpose of getting the Portuguese intruder out, the country would have been saved of all the diabolical things that Queyroz, their own historian, had to record of their misdoings in this island. But that was not to be. Disunity amongst the Sinhalese, and the dominant ambitions of its rulers, with self before country, is seen as a recurring factor in the history of this island.

History of its two kings

The history of Sitavaka is the history of its two kings, Mayadunne and Rajasinha I. They were the only two rulers, who fought with grim determination to expel the Portuguese from the island, but personal glory, internecine warfare, inter and intra domain intrigue, vacillation and love of lucre among its fighting forces, the lack of better artillery for siege warfare, the lack of a naval power, and the latter day intemperance of Rajasinha, prevented them from achieving their objectives. Yet, in their hey-day, they were looked upon with awe and admiration by the Sinhalese, and even by their bitter enemies, the Portuguese.

With the death of Rajiasinha, the final obsequies of Sitavaka, was done in quick succession by Rajasurya and Nikapitiye Bandara, and was concluded by Don Joao at Colombo alias Dharmapala of Kotte. And, with that, Sitavaka passed into history: glorious, it could have been, but it was not to be.

[Some sources and publications: Chulavamsa, Rajavaliya, Mandarampura Puvata, Alkesvara Yuddhaya, Documents published in Aitihasika Sitavaka by Risiman Amarasinghe, Ceylon: The Portuguese Era by P E Pieris, The Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylon by Queyroz, A Short History of Ceylon by Cordrington, Political History of Kotte by G P V Somaratne, Ceylon and her People by N. E. Weerasooria, The Kandyan Kingdom by L S Devaraja, Fidalogs in the Kingdom of Kotte by O. M. da Silva Cosme, Mahanuvara Rajadhaniya by Abhaysinghe, Devaraja and Somaratne, and University of Peradeniya History of Sri Lanka Vol. II, ed K M de Silva.]

Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe Vimala Dharma Suriya I Flags

Dalada Maligawa in Kandy where King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe envisioned himself as a god King.