1397 AC - 1411 AC

After overthrowing Kumara Alakeshwara, who ruled Rayigama, power was seized by Prince Veera Alakeshwara, the younger son of the sister of King Alakeshwara XI.
However, he did not have the opportunity to rule for long. He was later overthrown, and the throne was taken by Prince Veerabahu, the elder brother of Veera Alakeshwara, who was the heir-apparent (Yuvaraja) of King Bhuvanekabahu V.
The reason for this may be that, after King Bhuvanekabahu V, the rightful successor was his crown prince Veerabahu. Therefore, Veerabahu claimed the throne.
Historical records state that after being defeated in the battle between the two brothers at Rayigama, Veera Alakeshwara fled to India. Many historical texts do not mention this first reign of Veera Alakeshwara, possibly because he was never formally crowned or because he fled to India following conflict over succession after the death of King Bhuvanekabahu V.
However, in the book “A Concise History of Ceylon” published in 1961 by C.W. Nicholas and Senarath Paranavithana, it is mentioned that Kumara Alakeshwara was first overthrown and that power was briefly taken by him, but soon after, it was seized by his elder brother Veerabahu.
(According to the Asgiriya palm-leaf manuscript, King Veerabahu is described as a brother of King Alakeshwara XI and as the second husband of Queen Jayasiri, known as Devamantri or Devamantrishwara.)
As mentioned earlier, after the battle with his brother Veerabahu, Veera Alakeshwara is said to have fled to India.
Later, he returned and, after another battle, regained the throne.
It is recorded that King Veerabahu II died around AD 1396, but it is not clear whether this was a natural death or the result of conflict with Veera Alakeshwara.
It is also mentioned that his sons, Vijaya Epa and Thunayesa, ruled the kingdom until Veera Alakeshwara regained power.
This reign appears not to have been recognized by the nobles of Kandy. Therefore, around AD 1410, they appointed Parakramabahu Epa, the grandson of the minister Senalankadhikara, as ruler.
The Chinese admiral Zheng He landed in Sri Lanka in AD 1405. He returned in 1409, intending to offer gifts and take the Sacred Tooth Relic. However, because Veera Alakeshwara did not receive them properly and treated them as enemies, Zheng He returned again in 1411, defeated Veera Alakeshwara in battle, and took him captive to China.
Chinese records state that he was captured due to intelligence provided by one of his own military officers. It is believed that this intelligence was supplied to the Chinese commander by a spy of Parakramabahu Epa.
Although he was later released from China, it is said that he was killed on the very day of his return.
— Isura Wickramaarachchi, Mahavansa Pradeepikawa