2. UPATISSA 505-504 BC – The Chief Minister of Vijaya – He took over as Regent as Vijaya died without an heir. He governed for one year until the arrival of Panduvasudeva, the younger son of Vijaya’s brother, Summitha. 

3. PANDUVASUDEVA 504-474 BC – Son of King Vijaya’s brother – Prince Panduvasudeva arrived accompanied by thirty two noble youth. Princess Buddhakachchana, daughter of a King named Panda, from an ancient Royal family,  a cousin of the Buddha also arrived from Vijaya’s homeland with thirty two female attendants. Prince Panduvasudeva and Princess Buddhakachchana were married and duly concesrated as the second King and Queen of Lanka. The king gave his thirty two noble men in marriage to the queen’s thirty two attendants. 

The King had ten sons, the eldest named Abhaya, and one daughter names Ummadha Citta. 

A court Brahimn (learned astrologer) predicted that the son who will be born to Princess Citta will destroy his uncles. The sons of King Panduvasudeva held a meeting led by the second son Tissa and planned to kill their sister, Princess Citta. The eldest son, Abhaya, did not approve of such an extreme and cruel action, and with the consent of his father, the King, ordered her to be placed in solitary confinement. She was placed in a chamber adjoining the King’s own private chamber and the Queen’s personal maid, Cetiya, was entrusted with the task of taking care of the infant princess. 

As the years went by Princess Citta grew into a beautiful woman. Shortly after her sixteenth year she was looking down at the garden from her chamber window and saw her brother Prince Tissa talking to a stranger under a tree. She asked Cetiya, her maid, who this man was and was told that he was Prince Dighagamini, the ruler of a neighboring state. The princess expressed her desire to meet this Prince and the maid Cetiya arranged this and a meeting took place between them. Soon, it was discovered by Citta and Princess Cetiya that the Princess was pregnant. Princess Citta confided this situation to her brother Prince Abhaya and he then learned that the person responsible was his own cousin Prince Dhigagamini. 

Abhaya told his father the story and persuaded him to marry the princess to Prince Dhigagamini. The King agreed. Abhaya next told his brothers who were all furious with anger. Tissa proclaimed that if Citta’s child was a boy he would kill him immediately. Citta, in her attempt to protect her child should he be a boy, planned to substitute a female newborn child in the place of hers if her child was a boy which was the case. Her new born son was smuggled out of the palace and a new born female child was substituted in his place. Her mother the Queen and the maidservant Cetiya, both, agreed to help in this caper. The newborn son was spirited away into the safe and secluded territory of the Ruhuna (south of the Island). A female newborn child was substituted in his place by the side of Citta. The King was overjoyed at the birth of his granddaughter and named her Canna, after her grandmother. 

The boy, now growing up in distant Ruhuna, was named Pandukabhaya, a combination of the names of Citta’s father, Panduvasudeva, and her eldest brother Abhaya, who had been her lifelong friend and savior.  The reservoir, Abhaya Wewa, was built during their reign in the year 505 BC. The King died after a peaceful ad prosperous reign of thirty years. His sea of government, during this reign, was Vijitapura. 

4. ABHAYA  474-454 BC – Eldest son of King Panduvasudeva – On the death of King Panduvasudeva his ten sons assembled together and chose Prince Abhaya, the oldest among them, to be the Sovereign of Lanka. Princess Ummada Citta’s cunning plan to conceal her son from her wicked brothers did not remain a closed secret for very long. They tried hard to seek him and kill him but failed. King Abhaya was accused by his brothers for having connived and helped their sister protect her son Pandukabhaya. Thus he was deposed and the second son, Prince Tissa, was given the throne. 

5. TISSA  454-437 BC – Second son of King Panduvasudeva, younger brother of King Abhaya – He was appointed the regent by his eight younger brothers after the deposition of the oldest brother, King Abhaya, from the throne. Tissa claimed that he would be consecrated king only after he had finally defeated his nephew Pandukhabaya. This, however, was not to be as Pandukabhaya swept on triumphantly. Tissa was slain in battle along with all his eight younger brothers. Abhaya was spared. Pandukabhaya, the undisputed victor, called upon his uncle Abhaya to take up the throne again. Abhaya declined. 

6. PANDUKABHAYA  437-367 BC – Grandson of King Panduvasudeva, Son of Princess Umaddha Citta, Nephew of King Abhaya and Prince Tissa – Umaddha Citta had entrusted the education of her son, Pandukabhaya, to a Brahmin by the name of Pandula. This Brahmin made his own son, Canda, the fellow student of the Prince and the two became good friends. Pandukabhaya married a beautiful princess named Swarnapali (Pali), daughter of Girikandasiva, an uncle of his who was governing the territory of Girikandaka. They were consecrated King and Queen of Lanka. 

Pandukabhaya founded the city of Anuradhapura and the seat of government was moved to the new city. He appointed his friend, Canda (son of his Brahin teacher), to the office of Adigar (Minister). He also appointed his uncle Abhaya, Mayor of the city. To his father-in-law Girikandasiva he restored the city of Girikandaka. He devoted much of his time to the the adornment and civil government of the new capital city of Anuradhapura. Agriculture too received his due share of attention. He constructed the Jaya Wewa and Gamini Wewa. Magnificent was the tolerance and encouragement of all religious systems during this period of Lanka’s history. He also built a special palace for his mother, Umaddha Citta, at Anuradhapura. He died after having reigned for seventy years. 

7. MUTASIVA  367-307 BC – Son of King Pandukabhaya - 

8. DEVANAMPIYA TISSA  307-267 BC – second Son of King Mutasiva – His close friendship with Emperor Asoka in India led to the introduction of Buddhism by Mahinda in 247 BC. Their Sangamitta arrived with the branch of the Bodhi Tree from Buddha Gaya. The tree still exists as the oldest historical tree in the world. She also established the order of the Bhikkuni’s (Nuns) 

9. UTTIYA  267-257 BC – Brother of King Devanampiya Tissa - 

10. MAHASIVA  257-247 BC – Second (younger) brother of King Devanampiya Tissa - 

11. SURATISSA  247-237 BC – Younger brother of King Mutasiva 

12. SENA & GUTTILA  237-215 BC – Two Tamil Chief’s, horse dealers, joint rulers who came from South India, killed King Suratissa and usurped the Sinhalese throne at Anuradhapura (first historically reported account of Tamil rule in Sri Lanka) Sinhala rule was re-established in 215 BC 

13. ASELA  215-205 BC – Youngest (ninth) brother of King Devanampiya Tissa, younger brother of King Suratissa regained the kingdom from the Indian invaders 

14.  ELARA  205-161 BC (the Just) – A Tamil Prince of the Chola Dynasty from South India ruled the country for 44 years after invading Anuradhapura and killing King Asela – During this period of rule by the Tamil King Elara whio ruled from Anuradhapura, the capital of Raja Rata (King’s Territory), there were two Sub-Divisions of the Island known as Maya Rata to the South West and Ruhuna to the South East. They were administered by Sub-Kings who were loyal subjects and supporters of the supreme Monarch. At the time Elara ruled at Anuradhapura, Kelani Tissa was king of Maya Rata and Kavan Tissa was king of Ruhuna. Elara was a just ruler, and though a Hindu, was tolerant of Buddhism. The tank situated in the Northern Province called Vanunik Kulam was also constructed by him. He ruled over Lanka for forty four years when he was slain in battle by Prince Dutu Gemunu (Dutta Gamini) in 161 BC. At this time the south of the island was ruled by King Kavantissa. 

15a  KELANI TISSA – Mahanaga who established a local sovereignty at Magama devoted his time to religion. The Tissa Wewa of the Southern Province was constructed by him. He was succeeded, at his death, by his son Yatalaka Tissa who fixed his Capital at Kelaniya and built the Kelaniya Dagaba. On the death, Yakalaka Tissa was succeeded by his son, Gotabhaya, who went to Magama to reign at his grandfather’s capital, leaving a Kshatriya by the name of Kelani Tissa, to reign at Kelaniya. 

15b  KAVAN TISSA -  Son of Gotabhaya succeeded his father on his death at Magama. He built many edifices in different parts of his kingdom for the cause of religion amongst which is the Tissa Maha Vihara and the Dighavapi Tank. Neither of them even contemplated war against Elara as they believed he was too powerful to be confronted and defeated. 

16. DUTU GEMUNU aka DUTTA GAMINI or GAMINI  161-137 BC – Eldest son of King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna, (originally the ruler of the southeastern kingdom of Ruhuna), took power from Elara by killing him in battle after a 15 year campaign -