Thammanna Nuwara
Upatissa Nuwara
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura Chola
Ruhuna
Polonnaruwa
Dambadeniya
Yapahuwa
Kurunegala
Gampola
Kotte
Sitawaka
Kandy
Portuguese
Dutch
British
Monarch of Ceylon
145
King Weerabahu I
Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
1196 AC - 1196 AC

After King Nissankamalla, the throne was assumed by his son, Prince Virabahu. As the crown prince, he had received the title of Mapa (Mahadhipada) after his father, the king. It is clear that he too belonged to the Kalinga lineage. Unfortunately, on the second day after ascending the throne, he fell victim to death. The Mahavamsa does not clearly explain how this death occurred. However, the Pujavaliya describes it accurately. It states that Prince Virabahu was killed by a commander named Thavuru Senevirath, and that the reason given was that he was not the king’s legitimate son.

However, several of the king’s inscriptions clearly state that Prince Virabahu was the legitimate son of the king, and also that he was the crown prince. It can be considered that the commander involved in the above incident, Thavuru Senevirath, was in fact Lak Vijaya Singu Senevi Thavurunava, the chief commander of King Nissankamalla. This incident reveals how royal officials, who were gradually becoming powerful, were even inclined to manipulate kingship itself. It further becomes clear how this power eventually extended to the ability to install a ruler of their own choosing. Nevertheless, Professor Senarath Paranavitana states that the killing of King Virabahu indicates signs of an extremely dangerous and highly volatile political climate.

The reign of King Virabahu lasted only about one night.

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