Kings ruled our country before the British captured it. They ruled our country for more than 1,500 years. Some of the kings who ruled our country were King Dutugemunu, King, Devanampiyatissa, King Elara and King Vasabha. Some kings were Sinhala and some were Tamil.
King Pandukabhaya ruled our country duringthe Anuradhapura period. His father was Prince Deeghagamini and his mother was Princess Chithra. He faced many problems during his childhood. He made four gates from four main directions to enter the city and he made manyreligious places. He ruled for 70 years.
King Devanampiyatissa was a great king who ruled in Anuradhapura. His father was king Mutaseewa. King Devanampiyatissa was ruling when Ven. Arahath Mahinda Thera came to our country. He made the Thuparama Dagaba. The King made monasteries for the
King Dutugemunu was an intelligent and great ruler. He too ruled in Anuradhapura. King Kavantissa was his father and his brother was Prince Tissa. He made the Ruwanveliseya. Rathnamali Swarnamali are the other names for the chaitya.
He made the Mirisawetiya chaitya as a punishment for himself. The reason for the punishment was that he ate a chilly curry before offering it to the bhikkhus. He made the Lovamahapaya for the bhikkhus to live.
He was a religious king.
King Elara ruled in Anuradhapura and king Dutugemunu fought and defeated him. He came from the Chola country. He was a righteous Tamil King.
King Valagamba was king Saddhatissa’s son. He was a great king. He built the Abhayagiriya chaitya. King Parakramabahu ruled in Polonnaruwa. He built a bridge and the Parakrama Samudraya.
King Vasabha spent his childhood at his uncle’s house. He created the Mayenti river. He did a great service to Buddhism. King Mahasen too was a great king and he constructed sixteen tanks and built the Jethawana stupa. King Dhatusena built the Kala Wewa and an alms hall.
All these kings did a great service. We must never forget them. We should protect these ancient places.
R.M. Hirun Manusha Ranasinghe
Grade 6
Sussex College
Gampaha.