In ancient Sri Lanka, the Southern Kingdom called Dakkhinadesaya was ruled at one time by a king named Manabharana. His queen was Queen Ratnavali. Prince Parakramabahu was their son.
Sadly, before long King Manabharana died and the young Prince Parakramabahu had to live with his uncle, King Keerthi Sri Megha.
The Prince’s training
The uncle, King Keerthi Sri Megha had the nephew, Prince Parakramabahu trained in all the subjects and arts necessary for a king.
These included riding, hunting and the martial arts or ways of fighting. 
Prince Parakramabahu was a quick learner and soon, he had mastered them all.
As he grew older the young prince was seized with an ambition to rule the whole of Lanka and make it a prosperous and great nation.
When King Manabharana died, Prince Parakramabahu became the king of Dhakkinadesaya.
King Parakramabahu paid great attention to developing agriculture.
He also highlighted the importance of savimg water and putting it to good use. What he said then is still quoted by many.
He said No “Not a single drop of water should be allowed to flow into the ocean, without being made use of for the people”.
King Parakramabahu built Pandu Wewa.
He used the waters of the Deduru Oya to build this wewa.
Parakramapura
Parakramapura was the magnificent capital built by King Parakramabahu.
Today, it is known as Panduvasnuwara.
Once he was well established as the king or ruler of Dhakkinidesaya King Parakramabahu turned his attention to Polonnaruwa. It was his ambition to capture Polonnaruwa and the rest of the Kingdom of Rajarata and unite the country under one rule- his rule.
However, King Parakramabahu realised that he needed to gather information about Polonnaruwa and Rajarata before he set about capturing it. He,along with his trusted men set off for Polonnaruwa on a fact finding mission.
When King Prakramabhu’s relative, King Gajabahu realised that King Parakramabahu was approaching the city of Polonnaruwa he was not very happy.
However, he had no alternative but to welcome King Parakramabahu warmly. 
During his stay in Polonnaruwa King Parakramabahu went around the streets making note of useful things like where there were guards on duty.
He also got his men to disguise themselves as snake charmers, traders and musicians and mingle with the people of Polonnaruwa to collect information.
After a while, news of King Prarkramabahu’s activities reached King Gajabahu 11.
At the same time, King Parakramabahu felt that King Gajabahu 11 had got to know about what he and his men were up to. He quietly returned to his own kingdom, Dhakkinidesaya.
Back in his own kingdom, King Parakramabahu strengthend his army in preparation to invade Polonnaruwa. This he did around 1150 AD. Though King Parakramabahu sent his army to capture the Kingdom of Rajarata, he himself did not go to battle.
A long war
A long war took place the two kings, Parakramabahu and the Gajabahu 11 signed an agreement and this put an end to the war.
According to this agreement King Parakramabhu would ascend the throne of Rajarata, of which Polonnaruwa was the capital, after the death of King Gajabahu 11.
And, on King Gajabahu’s death King Parakramabahu became the King of Rajarata and Dhakkinidesaya.
Another important fact at this time was that the Sacred Tooth Relic and the alms bowl of the Buddha was in the possession of Queen Sugala, the ruler of Ruhuna.