Founding The first king to choose
Dambadeniya as his capital was Vijayabahu III. He was able to bring about the unity among the
Sangha that had fled in various directions due to the hostile activities of the invader
Kalinga Magha and succeeded in holding a Buddhist convention in 1226 to bring about peace among the Buddhist clergy.
Parakramabahu II succeeded his father, King Vijayabahu III. He was regarded as a gifted ruler, celebrated both as a poet and a prolific writer. Among his notable works is
Kausilumina, which is considered a masterpiece of Sinhala literature. His eldest son, Bosath Vijayabahu, was crowned in 1270. He was well known for his modest character and religious devotion. However, his reign was short-lived; he was assassinated in the second year of his rule by a minister named Miththa. After the death of his elder brother Vijayabahu IV, Bhuvanekabahu I, the next in line to the throne, moved the capital to Yapahuwa for reasons of security. He continued in his father’s tradition as a writer and carried forward the religious activities initiated by his brother.
Rule from Yapahuwa After the assassination of Vijayabahu IV, his brother ascended the throne following a series of conflicts with dissident generals and became Bhuvanekabahu I (1272–1284). Considering Dambadeniya insecure, he transferred the capital to
Yapahuwa in 1273 and developed it into a fortified royal residence. Yapahuwa, built on a 90-meter-high rock boulder in the style of
Sigiriya, served as both a palace and a military stronghold against foreign invasions. Many defensive structures remain, but the site’s most striking feature is its ornamental stairway. At the summit are the ruins of a stupa, a Bodhi tree enclosure, and rock shelters once used by Buddhist monks, indicating that the site functioned as a monastery before becoming a fortress. At the base of the rock are several caves, including one with Buddha images and another bearing a Brahmi inscription. Fortifications with two moats and ramparts still stand, along with the remains of shrines and other buildings. The
Yapahuwa Rajamaha Vihara, built during the Kandyan period, continues the site’s Buddhist legacy. The Sacred Tooth Relic was brought from Dambadeniya and enshrined in a temple at the summit of the stairway. However, in 1284, following the death of Bhuvanekabahu I, the Pandyas of South India invaded, captured the Tooth Relic, and carried it to India. It was recovered in 1288 by Parakramabahu III (1287–1293), who temporarily safeguarded it in Polonnaruwa. After the invasion, Yapahuwa was abandoned as a royal capital and was later inhabited by Buddhist monks and religious ascetics.
Rule from Polonnaruwa Parakramabahu III, the son of Vijayabahu III and the grandson of Parakramabahu II became king in Polonnaruwa. became king at Polonnaruwa. During his reign, he sought to restore the
Sacred Tooth Relic to the island by establishing diplomatic relations with the
Pandyan Kingdom. His efforts were successful, and the relic was enshrined in the Temple of the Tooth at Polonnaruwa. He ruled for five years before his death in 1303.
Rule from Kurunegala Bhuvanekabahu II, the son of Bhuvanekabahu I, succeeded his cousin Parakramabahu III in 1303 and shifted the capital to Kurunegala, ruling for two years until his death in 1305. Kurunegala served as the capital of Sri Lanka from around 1300 to 1341, following the kingdom of Yapahuwa. During this period, five kings of the Sinhala dynasty reigned from the city. The first ruler was Bhuvanekabahu II (1303–1305), followed by his son Parakramabahu IV (1302–1326). Parakramabahu IV is noted for translating the
Buddhist Jataka tales into Sinhala and commissioning temples, including the Alutnuwara Devale in
Kegalle. He also oversaw a strong religious revival, reorganizing rituals associated with the Sacred Tooth Relic as recorded in the
Dalada Sirita. Little is known about his successors, Bhuvanekabahu III, Vijayabahu V, and Bhuvanekabahu IV, or the reasons the capital was moved again, though Parakramabahu V later ruled from
Gampola (1344–1408). Kurunegala was historically known as
Hasthishailya-pura and in literature as
Athugalpura (“City of the Elephant Rock”), named for the prominent elephant-shaped rock that dominates the landscape. Several other large rocks in the area, such as Monkey Rock and Tortoise Rock, are also notable landmarks. Today, an 88-foot Buddha statue sits atop the Elephant Rock. During this period, the Sacred Tooth Relic was kept and venerated in Kurunegala. Archaeological remains of its temple, including stone steps and part of a doorway, can still be seen. Kurunegala is surrounded by other historical sites, including the earlier capitals of
Panduwasnuwara, Dambadeniya, and Yapahuwa, reflecting the region’s significance in medieval Sri Lankan history.
Rule of king Parakramabahu IV Parakramabahu IV, regarded as the greatest king of the Kurunegala period, was also known as Panditha Parakramabahu II in recognition of his contributions to Buddhism, education, and literature. His authority extended beyond Kurunegala to regions including Kandy, Kegalle, Colombo, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, and much of the southern province. He authored the book
Dalada Siriththa and is credited with constructing the Asgiriya Viharaya in Kandy. ==Culture==