histoy G-10 E

became the king in about 1272. He is named
as king Buvanekabahu I. He faced a number of
problems. As soon as he became the king, a group
of provincial leaders rebelled against him. During
the same time several south Indian forces invaded
Sri Lanka. One invasion was led by an army
general named Kalingarayara. Another platoon
was led by one army general named Chodanga.
The king faced all these adversaries successfully
and spent a few years in Dambadeniya. Later
the king selected Yapahuwa, since it was a safer
place, as his capital. King Buvanekabahu I was
very interested in having trade relations with
foreign countries. It is reported that a group of
ambassadors sent by the king to the Sultan in
Egypt to discuss to develop trade relations with
Egypt had been welcomed in Cairo in the month
of April in 1283. After some time of that event,
king Buvanekabahu I died in 1284.

It seems after the demise of king Buvanekabahu,

a dispute was started among prince

Parakramabahu, the son of Bosath Vijayabahu

and prince Buvanekabahu II, the son of king

Buvanekabahu I about the kingship. During

this time a provincial leader from the South

India named Arya Chackrawarthi had arrived

in Sri Lanka with a Pandya army, attacked the

Yapahuwa citadel, took the tooth relic to South

India and handed it over to King Kulashekara,

who was the Pandyan king. Later the son of king

Bosath Vijayabahu, prince Parakramabahu went

to India, met king Kulashekara, discussed with

him and brought the tooth relic back. He went to

Polonnaruwa and started his ruling. This king is

named as Parakramabahu III. His ruling period

started in 1287 A.D. But, prince Buvanekabahu

II besieged Polonnaruwa, defeated the king and

took back the tooth relic to Kurunegala in about

1293. He made Kurunegala his
      capital.

Kurunegala

The first ruler who established the

Kurunegala kingdom was king

Buvanekabahu II. His ruling time

was 9 years from 1293 A.D. After

the death of king Buvanekabahu

II, his son, prince Parakramabahu

acceded to the kingship in

Kurunegala. Since he was the

fourth Parakramabahu we meet

in the history of this country, he

is named as Parakramabahu IV.

According to the Tamil poetry

Sarajothimaleyi, he became the

king in 1302 A.D.

Much service was done to the

uplifting of Buddhism as well as

education during the Kurunegala

ruling period. One of the most

prominent services done during

Plan no. 7.4 A sketch of the

ancient Kurunegala city.