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King Dappula I
Kingdom of Anuradhapura
659 AC - 659 AC
659 AC - 659 AC
King Vijaya
543 BC-505 BC
King Panduvasdeva
504 BC-474 BC
King Abhaya
474 BC-454 BC
King Tissa
454 BC-437 BC
King Pandukabhaya
437 BC-367 BC
King Mutasiva
367 BC-307 BC
King Devanampiya Tissa
307 BC-267 BC
King Uttiya
267 BC-257 BC
King Mahasiva
257 BC-247 BC
King Suratissa
247 BC-237 BC
Sena and Guttika
237 BC-215 BC
King Asela
215 BC-205 BC
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205 BC-161 BC
King Dutugemunu
161 BC-137 BC
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King Thulatthana
119 BC-119 BC
King Lajjithissa
119 BC-109 BC
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109 BC-103 BC
King Walagamba
89 BC-76 BC
King Pulahaththa
103 BC-100 BC
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100 BC-98 BC
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98 BC-91 BC
King Piliyamara
91 BC-91 BC
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91 BC-89 BC
King Mahachulikamahathissa
76 BC-62 BC
King Choranaga
62 BC-50 BC
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50 BC-47 BC
King Siva I
47 BC-45 BC
King Vatuka
45 BC-44 BC
King Darubhatika Tissa
44 BC-43 BC
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43 BC-43 BC
Queen Anula
43 BC-42 BC
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42 BC-19 BC
King Bhathikabhaya
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King Mahadatika Mahanaga
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King Yassalalaka Thissa
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King Subha
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King Vasabha
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King Vankanasika Tissa
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King Gajabahu I
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King Mahallaka Naga
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King Bhathika Thissa
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King Kanitta Tissa
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King Kujjanaga
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King Kudda Naga
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King Sirinaga I
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King Voharika Tissa
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King Abhaya Naga
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King Vijaya Kumara
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King Sangha Tissa I
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King Siri Sangha Bodhi I
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King Gotabhaya
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King Jetta Tissa I
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King Mahasen
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King Kithsirimewan
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King Buddhadasa
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King Upatissa I
368 AC-410 AC
King Mahanama
410 AC-432 AC
King Soththisena
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King Miththasena
432 AC-433 AC
King Pandu
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King Parinda
438 AC-441 AC
King Kuda Parinda
441 AC-456 AC
King Thirithara
456 AC-456 AC
King Datiya II
456 AC-459 AC
King Peetiya
459 AC-459 AC
King Dhathusena
459 AC-477 AC
King Kassapa I
477 AC-495 AC
King Mugalan I
495 AC-512 AC
King Kumaradasa
512 AC-520 AC
King Kiththisena
520 AC-521 AC
King Siva II
521 AC-521 AC
King Upatissa II
521 AC-522 AC
King Silakala
522 AC-535 AC
King Datappabhuthi
535 AC-535 AC
King Mugalan II
535 AC-555 AC
King Kiththisirimegha
555 AC-573 AC
King Mahanaga
573 AC-575 AC
King Aggabodhi I
575 AC-608 AC
King Aggabodhi II
608 AC-618 AC
King Sangha Tissa II
618 AC-618 AC
King Mugalan III
618 AC-623 AC
King Silameghavanna
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King Aggabodhi III
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King Jetta Tissa III
633 AC-633 AC
King Datopathissa i
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King Kassapa II
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King Dappula I
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King Datopathissa II
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King Aggabodhi IV
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King Daththa
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King Haththadata
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King Manavamma
684 AC-718 AC
King Aggabodhi V
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King Kassapa III
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King Mahinda I
730 AC-733 AC
King Aggabodhi VI
733 AC-772 AC
King Aggabodhi VII
772 AC-777 AC
King Mahinda II
777 AC-797 AC
King Udaya I
797 AC-801 AC
King Mahinda III
801 AC-804 AC
King Aggabodhi VIII
804 AC-815 AC
King Dappula II
815 AC-831 AC
King Aggabodhi IX
831 AC-833 AC
King Sena I
833 AC-853 AC
King Sena II
853 AC-887 AC
King Udaya II
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King Kassapa IV
898 AC-914 AC
King Kassapa V
914 AC-923 AC
King Dappula III
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King Dappula IV
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King Udaya III
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King Sena III
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King Udaya IV
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King Sena IV
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King Mahinda IV
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King Sena V
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King Mahinda V
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Rajendra Chola I
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Rajadhiraja Chola
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Rajendra Chola II
1052 AC-1064 AC
Virarajendra Chola
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Athirajendra Chola
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King Wickramabahu I
1029 AC-1040 AC
King General Keerthi
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King Mahalana Kiththi
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King Wickrama Pandu
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King Jagathpala
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King Parakrama Pandu
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King Lokissara
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King Kesadhathu
1054 AC-1055 AC
King Vijayabahu I
1055 AC-1110 AC
King Jayabahu I
1110 AC-1111 AC
King Wickramabahu II
1111 AC-1132 AC
King Gajabahu II
1032 AC-1053 AC
King Parakramabahu I
1053 AC-1086 AC
King Vijayabahu II
1186 AC-1187 AC
King Mahinda VI
1187 AC-1187 AC
King Nissanka Malla
1187 AC-1196 AC
King Weerabahu I
1196 AC-1196 AC
King Wickramabahu III
1196 AC-1196 AC
King Chodaganga
1196 AC-1197 AC
Queen Leelawathie
1197 AC-1200 AC
King Sahasamalla
1200 AC-1202 AC
Queen Kalyanawathie
1202 AC-1208 AC
King Dharmasoka
1208 AC-1209 AC
King Anikanga
1209 AC-1209 AC
King Lokissara ii
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King Parakrama Pandu II
1212 AC-1215 AC
King Kalinga Magha
1215 AC-1255 AC
King Vijayabahu III
1232 AC-1236 AC
King Parakramabahu II
1236 AC-1272 AC
King Vijayabahu IV
1272 AC-1274 AC
King Buvanekabahu I
1274 AC-1286 AC
King Parakramabahu III
1287 AC-1293 AC
King Buvanekabahu II
1293 AC-1302 AC
King Parakramabahu IV
1302 AC-1326 AC
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King Buvanekabahu III (Vanni B
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King Vijayabahu V
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King Buvanekabahu IV
1341 AC-1359 AC
King Parakramabahu V
1344 AC-1359 AC
King Wickramabahu IV
1359 AC-1371 AC
King Buvanekabahu V
1371 AC-1407 AC
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King Kumara Alakeshwara (Alake
1391 AC-1391 AC
King Weera Alakesvara
1397 AC-1411 AC
King Weerabahu II
1391 AC-1397 AC
King Parakramabahu Epa
1410 AC-1415 AC
King Parakramabahu VI
1415 AC-1467 AC
King Jayabahu II
1468 AC-1470 AC
King Buvanekabahu VI
1470 AC-1478 AC
King Panditha Parakramabahu VI
1478 AC-1484 AC
King Weera Parakramabahu VIII
1484 AC-1508 AC
King Darma Parakramabahu IX
1508 AC-1513 AC
King Vijayabahu VI
1513 AC-1521 AC
King Buvanekabahu VII
1521 AC-1551 AC
King Don Juwan Dharmapala
1551 AC-1597 AC
King Mayadunne
1551 AC-1581 AC
King Rajasinha I
1581 AC-1593 AC
King Rajasooriya
1593 AC-1593 AC
King Nikapitiye Bandara
1593 AC-1593 AC
King Wimaladharmasuriya I
1591 AC-1604 AC
King Senarat
1604 AC-1635 AC
King Rajasinha II
1635 AC-1687 AC
King Wimaladharmasuriya II
1687 AC-1707 AC
King Sri Weera Parakrama Naren
1707 AC-1739 AC
King Sri Wijaya Rajasingha
1739 AC-1747 AC
King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha
1747 AC-1782 AC
King Rajadhi Rajasinha
1782 AC-1798 AC
King Sri Wikrama Rajasinha
1798 AC-1815 AC
Pedro Lopes de Sousa
1594 AC-1594 AC
Joao da Silveira
1518 AC-1518 AC
Lopo de Brito
1518 AC-1522 AC
Fernao Gomes de Lemos
1522 AC-1524 AC
Joao Henriques
1551 AC-1552 AC
Diogo de Melo Coutinho
1552 AC-1552 AC
Duarte de Eca
1552 AC-1553 AC
Fernao Carvalho
1553 AC-1555 AC
Willem Jacobszoon Coster
1640 AC-1640 AC
Jan Thyszoon Payart
1640 AC-1646 AC
After the death of the second King Kaśyapa, Prince Dappula, who came from Ruhuna, was enthroned. Since he appears under that name, it is appropriate to refer to him as the first Dappula. During this period, which was filled with great turmoil, the Dappula king, who ruled Anuradhapura for seven years, could not face King Dāṭhōpatiśśa along with Prince Māṇa, and fled to Ruhuna, as mentioned in a previous chapter. It is important here to consider the situation these individuals faced.
The second Dappula was the son of King Mahatissa, a prominent figure born into the Okkaaka dynasty. His mother was Princess Sangha, the daughter of the ruler of Ruhuna. Together, these two had three sons—Aggabodhi Dappula, Māni Akkhi—and one daughter. The daughter was called to the royal palace, according to the Mahāvamsa. This was the Anuradhapura royal palace. Based on the details of events, the Vamsakatha suggests that Shiladāṭha, mentioned therein, was initially King Shilameghavarna, who ascended the throne.
The Aggabodhi prince, the son of Mahatissa, was established in Ruhuna. He was very wealthy. A lineage named Dāṭhaggabodhi also constructed the Mahāpāli Danhalaya in Ruhuna. Many other religious activities in Ruhuna were carried out under the guidance of the Aggabodhi prince. Among these, the Pratima Vihāra in Kān̄gāma and its great image held a special place. The Vamsakatha praises that the statue was skillfully crafted. Among the existing statues in Ruhuna’s monasteries, the Maligawila Buddha image is particularly significant. Therefore, it is likely that the monastery mentioned in these records was associated with that statue.
Although compassionate and humble, during the Aggabodhi prince’s reign, Ruhuna flourished. After him, the Dappula king, who ruled Anuradhapura for seven years, assumed power in Ruhuna. He was famously known in Ruhuna as Samidappula. If there were any enemies in Ruhuna, he managed to maintain control and govern effectively. Shiladāṭha, later identified in the Mahāvamsa as King Sirimeghavarna, gave his daughter to him for protection and appointed him heir to the young king’s position. This enabled him to become the legitimate successor to the throne. Like the Aggabodhi prince, he also commissioned many constructions. The Mahāvamsa records the series of constructions carried out by this king.
In Pasāṇa Island (present-day Panama region), the Dappula king constructed the Ruhuna Vihāra and venerated it. This Ruhuna Vihāra corresponds to the Lahugala Magul Maha Vihāra today. A recently discovered inscription indicates that it was originally constructed by King Dhatusena, suggesting that Dappula may have restored or renovated it. Similarly, other Vihāras such as Ambamāla Vihāra, Anurārāma, Sirivaddha Prāsāda, Ambil Vihāra, Kewatta, Gambahira Gam Nāga Vihāra, Gonnawiti Gama Situlpaw Vihāra, and Malavathathu Gama Ariyakar Vihāra were either constructed or renovated under his patronage. He also built Khadirali Vihāra for the worship of the gods. The reference to Kihirali Dewola remains uncertain.
The king’s greatest achievement was commissioning the fifteen Riyan Maithriya Bodhisattva statues at Ariyakar Vihāra. Several Ariyakar Vihāras existed in the Ruhuna region, but the Maligawila statue near Okkampitiya belongs to this Ariyakar Vihāra. The king improved the Vihāra constructed by his elder brother, the Aggabodhi prince. This period also demonstrates that the Mahayana Bodhisattva concept had spread throughout Ruhuna. The Mahāvamsa emphasizes how the king showed consideration for monks sheltering under a tree in the rain.
During a royal tour, the king rested comfortably in a camp but could not sleep and wondered if he had spiritual faults. Finding none, he inspected even those who had been punished, including the entire forest. Monks who were wet under a tree in the rain were seen at that time. The king, filled with compassion, provided them care. This incident highlights the importance of self-examination and spiritual responsibility. Rulers should consider this as an exemplary lesson.
At this time, Prince Māṇa, from the east, was organizing military forces against King Dāṭhōpatiśśa, who had deprived his father of the throne. This shows that Prince Māṇa, the son of the second Kaśyapa king as well as the second Dappula king, was actively working to restore the throne to his father. However, these efforts failed. Furthermore, although the second Dāṭhōpatiśśa king ascended the throne, the eastern region did not come under his control. Prince Māṇa led an army against the king, but at Tambalagāma, he was defeated and died. Upon hearing this, the Dappula king could not bear the grief and passed away.
His reign in Anuradhapura lasted seven days, while in Ruhuna it lasted three years. Although short, because he ruled in Anuradhapura, the people regarded him as one of the three great kings. The Mahāvamsa, though brief, provides some details about him and his lineage. On the other hand, the scarcity of events recorded during this period shows that many individuals, such as King Shiladāṭha, are mentioned only by name.