Different historical documents may give the slightly different years in which each ruler reigned. Therefore even today various books and publications may give different years of reigns for various rulers. The information below is compiled from the following documents
| Ruler |
Details |
Period |
Tambapanni
|
|
|
| Vijaya |
Arrived in Sri Lanka from India |
543-505 BC |
| Upatissa |
A minister of Vijaya. Vijaya had no children from Pandi Queen* |
?? |
Vijitapura
|
|
|
| Panduvasdeva |
Son of Sumitta. Vijayas own brother who came from Sagala - India. Upatissa gave the crown to him when he arrived in Sri Lanka. |
504-474 BC |
| Abhaya |
Son of Panduvasdeva |
474-454 BC |
| Anuradhapura |
|
|
| Pandukabhaya |
Abhaya's Sisters son. Killed 9 uncles and became the king. |
437-367 BC |
| Ganatissa |
Son of Pandukabhaya* |
(40 years)* |
| Mutasiva |
Son of Ganatissa |
367-307 BC |
| Devamnampiyatissa |
Son of mutasiva |
250-210 BC |
| Arrival of the Great Mahinda Thero and introduction of Bhuddhism to Sri Lanka. |
250 BC |
| Arrival of Theri Sanghamitta with a branch of the original Sri Maha Bodhi in India |
249 BC |
| Uttiya |
Brother of Devamnampiyatissa |
?? |
| Mahasiva |
Brother of Devamnampiyatissa |
?? |
| Suratissa |
Brother of Devamnampiyatissa |
?? |
| Sena and Guttgaka |
Indian Invaders |
?? |
| Asela |
Youngest brother of Devamnampiyatissa |
?? |
| Elara |
Tamil invador form Chola country in India. Killed King Asela |
205-161 BC |
| Dutugamunu |
Son of King Kavanthissa of Ruhuna and queen Vihara Maha Devi. Kavanthissa is a brother of Devamnampiyatissa |
161-131 BC |
| Saddhatissa |
Brother of Dutugamunu |
137-119 BC |
| Thulatthana |
Second son of Saddhatissa |
119 BC |
| Lanjatissa |
Elder son of Saddhatissa who ousted Thulatthana |
119-109 BC |
| Khallata Naga |
|
109-104 BC |
| Vattagamini Abaya |
Youngest son of Saddhatissa |
104 BC |
| Pulahatta |
One of the seven South Indian Tamil Invaders who defeated Vattagamini Abaya. Two went back and other five stayed back and killed each other for the throne. |
104-101 BC |
| Bahiya |
Bahiya was the commander of Pulahatta's troops. Slew Pulahatta and took the throne |
101-99 BC |
| Panayamara |
Panayamara was the commander in chief of Bahiya's troops. Slew Bahiya and took the throne |
99-92 BC
|
| Pilayamara |
Pilayamara was the commander in chief of Panayamara's troops. Slew Panayamara and took the throne |
92 BC
(7 months) |
| Dathika |
Dathika was the commander in chief of Pilayamara's troops. Slew Pilayamara and took the throne |
91-89 BC |
| Vattagamini Abaya (restored) |
Defeated the South Indian Tamil Invaders (Dathika) and regained his sovereignty. |
89-77 BC |
| Mahaculi Mahathissa |
|
76-62 BC |
| Coranaga |
Son of Vattagamini Abaya who was poisoned by his queen Anula |
62-50 BC |
| Tissa |
Son of Mahaculi Mahathissa also poisoned by Anula. |
50-47 BC |
| Siva |
Queen Anula's lover, a palace guard. Made Anula his queen and ruled for one year two months. Was poisoned by Anula for the love of Vatuka. |
47 BC |
| Vatuka |
A Tamil which queen Anula fell in love with. Was a city carpenter. Made Anula his queen and ruled for one year two months. Was poisoned by Anula for the love of Darubhatika Tissa. |
46 BC |
| Darubhatika Tissa |
A wood carrier which queen Anula fell in love with. Made Anula his queen and ruled for one year one month. Was poisoned by Anula for the love of Niliya. |
45 BC |
| Niliya |
A brahman who was the palace-priest, which queen Anula fell in love with. Made Anula his queen and ruled for six months. Was poisoned by Anula. |
44 BC |
| Anula (Queen) |
Took control of the crown after poisoning all previous six rulers |
43 BC |
| Kutakanna Tissa |
Mahaculi Mahathissa's second son. Slayed Anula |
42-20 BC |
| Bhatika Abhaya |
Son of Kutakanna Tissa |
20 BC-9 AC |
| Mahadathika Mahanaga |
Younger brother of Bhatika Abhaya |
9-21 AC |
| Amanda-Gamini Abhaya |
Son of Mahadathika Mahanaga |
22-31 |
| Kanirajanu Tissa |
Younger brother of Amanda-Gamini Abhaya. Killed his brother. |
31-34 |
| Gulabhaya |
Son of Amanda-Gamini Abhaya. Ruled for 1 year. |
34-35 |
| Seevali (Queen) |
Younger sister of Gulabhaya. Ruled ofr 4 months |
35 |
| Ilanaga |
A nephew of Amanda-Gamini Abhaya. Dethroned Queen Seevali |
35 |
| The Lambakanna Clan |
Who imprisoned the king in his first year and they administered the Government. But the king escaped to Malaya Rata (Hill Country) and came back after 3 years to battle the Lambakannas |
35-38 |
| Ilanaga (restored) |
Defeated the Lambakannas and took back the control |
38-44 |
| Candamukha Siva |
Son of Ilanaga |
44-52 |
| Yasalalaka Tissa |
Younger brother of Candamukha Siva. Slew his brother for the throne. |
52-59 |
| Subha |
The gate watchman of the Palace. The king used to swap places with him from time to time due to close resemblance of the two. At one instance the Guard dressed as the king, ordered to slay the king (dessed as the guard) thus becomming the king. |
59-65 |
| Vasabha |
From the The Lambakanna Clan. Defeated Subha |
65-109 |
| Vankanasika Tissa |
Son of Vasabha. Married the daughter of Suba |
109-112 |
| Gajabahu I |
Son of Vankanasika Tissa |
112-134 |
| Mahalla Naga |
Father in law of Gajabahu I |
134-140 |
| Bhathika Tissa |
Son of Mahalla Naga |
140-164 |
| Kavanthissa |
Younger brother of Bhathika Tissa |
164-192 |
| Kanittha Tissa |
Youngest brother of Bhathika Tissa |
192-194 |
| Khujja Naga |
Son of Kanittha Tissa |
194-195 |
| Kuncha Naga |
Brother of Khujja Naga. Killed Khujja Naga. |
195-196 |
| Siri Naga I |
brother of the Kuncha Naga's consort. Was the commander of troops. Defeated Kuncha Naga. |
195-214 |
| Voharika Tissa |
Son of Siri Naga |
214-236 |
| Abhaya Naga |
Younger brother of Voharika Tissa had a affair with the queen. Slew Voharika Tissa to take power |
236-244 |
| Sirinaga II |
Son of Voharika Tissa |
244-246 |
| Vijaya-Kumara |
Son of Sirinaga |
246-247 |
| Samghatissa I |
Of Lambakannas clan. Three friends (Samghatissa, Samghabodhi and Gothakabhaya) killed Vijaya and Samghatissa took over. |
247-251 |
| Sirisamghabodhi |
one of the three friends of Samghatissa. Took over after the the Samghatissa I. |
251-253 |
| Gothabhaya |
The third friend. Took control of the Kingdom after Sirisamghabodhi fled from th city |
253-266 |
| Jettatissa I |
Son of Gothabhaya |
266-276 |
| Mahasena |
Younger brother of Jettatissa I |
276-303 |
| Sirimeghavanna (Kithsiri Mevan) |
Son of Mahasena |
303-311 |
| Arrival of Tooth Relic in Sri Lanka during King Sirimeghavanna's rule |
|
| Jettasissa II |
Younger brother of Sirimeghavanna |
331-340 |
| Buddhadasa |
Son of Jettasissa |
340-368 |
| Upatissa I |
Son of Buddhadasa |
368-410 |
| Mahanama |
2nd son of Buddhadasa |
410-432 |
| Sotthi Sona |
Illegitimate son of Mahanama who rules only for one day. He became the king in the forenoon and died in the afternoon from the poison given by his queen, princess Sanga |
432 |
| Chattagahaha Janthu |
|
432 |
| Mittasena |
|
432-433 |
| Pandu |
Pandyan Invders who took control |
433-438 |
| Parinda |
Pandyan Invders who took control |
438-441 |
| Khudda Parinda |
Pandyan Invders who took control |
441-456 |
| Tiritara |
Pandyan Invders who took control |
456 |
| Dathiya |
Pandyan Invders who took control |
456-459 |
| Pithiya |
Pandyan Invders who took control |
459 |
| Dhathusena |
A monk who gave up the robe to fight the tamil invaders after king Mahanama |
459-477 |
| Kassapa I |
Son of Dhathusena. Killed his father for the throne and built the rock fortress at Sigiriya. |
477-495 |
| Moggallana |
Step brother and the rightful owner to the throne. Defeated Kassapa to gain the throne. Kassapa committed suicide. |
495-512 |
| Kumara-Dhatusena |
Son of Moggallana. Died by juming in to the funeral pyre of his friend Kalidasa |
512-520 |
| Kittisena |
Son of Kumara-Dhatusena |
520-521 |
| Siva |
Uncle of Kittisena. Killed Kittisena |
521 |
| Upatissa II |
From Lamani clan. Killed Siva and ruled for 1 year ten months |
521-522 |
| Amba Samanera Silakala |
Killed Upatissa. From the same clan |
522-535 |
| Dathapabhuti |
Son of Amba Samanera Silakala. Ruled for six months |
535 |
| Moggallana II (Dalamugalan) |
nephew of Dathapabhuti |
535-555 |
| Kittisiri Meghavanna |
Son of Dalamugalan |
555-573 |
| Mahanaga |
From Okkaka clan. Killed Kittisiri Meghavanna |
573-575 |
| Aggabodhi I |
Nephew of Mahanaga |
575-608 |
| Aggabodhi II |
Nephew of Aggabodhi I |
608-618 |
| Sanghatissa II |
Younger brother of Aggabodhi II. Reigned for two months |
618 |
| Moggallana III |
Killed Sanghatissa II |
618-623 |
| Silameghavanna |
Killed Moggallana III |
623-632 |
| Aggaboghi III (Sirisangabodhi) |
Son of Silameghavanna |
632 |
| Jettatissa III |
Expelled king Aggabodhi |
632 |
| Aggabodhi III (restored) |
Aggabodhi defeats Jettatissa |
632-643 |
| Dathopatissa I |
younger brother of Aggabodhi |
643-650 |
| Kassapa II |
|
650-659 |
| Dappua I |
|
659 |
| Dathopatissa II |
|
659-667 |
| Aggabodhi IV |
Nephew of Dathopatissa |
667-683 |
| Datta |
|
683-684 |
| Hetthadatha II |
|
684 |
| Manavamma |
Son of Kassapa II |
684-718 |
| Aggabodhi V |
Son of Manavamma |
718-724 |
| Kassapa III |
Younger brother of Aggabodhi V |
724-730 |
| Mahinda I |
Younger brother of Aggabodhi V |
730-733 |
| Aggabodhi VI |
Son of Kassapa III? |
733-772 |
| Aggabodhi VII |
Son of Mahinda I |
772-777 |
| Mahinda II |
Son of Aggabodhi VII |
777-797 |
| Udaya I |
Son of Mahinda II. Also known as Dappula II |
797-801 |
| Mahinda III |
|
801-804 |
| Aggabodhi VIII |
|
804-815 |
| Dappula III |
Younger brother of Aggabodhi VIII |
815-831 |
| Aggabodhi IX |
|
831-833 |
| Sena I |
Younger brother of Dappula III |
833-853 |
| Sena II |
Nephew of Sena I |
853-887 |
| Udaya II |
Brother of Sena II |
887-898 |
| Kassapa IV |
Son of Sena II |
898-914 |
| Kassapa V |
Son of Sena II |
914-923 |
| Dappula IV |
|
923-924 |
| Dappula V |
Younger brother of Dappula IV |
924-935 |
| Udaya III |
|
935-938 |
| Sena III |
Younger brother of Udaya III |
938-946 |
| Udaya IV |
|
946-954 |
| Sena IV |
|
954-956 |
| Mahinda IV |
Nephew of Udaya IV |
956-972 |
| Sena V |
Son of Mahinda IV. Became the king at age of 12 |
972-982 |
| Mahinda V |
Brother of Sena V. Reigned from Urathota. Was captured by the cholas and deported to India |
982-1029 |
| Polnnaruwa |
|
|
| “Chola” Invaders |
South Indian invaders |
1017-1070 |
Vijayabahu I |
|
1070-1110 |
Jayabahu I |
Younger brother of Vijayabahu I |
1110-1111 |
Wickramabahu I |
Son of Vijayabahu I |
1111-1132 |
Gajabahu II |
|
1132-1159 |
Parakramabahu I |
The father of Parakramabahu , Manabharana was the son of Mitta, who was the sister of Vijayabahu I
The mother of Parakramabahu was Rathnavali who was a daughter of Vijayabahu |
1153-1186 |
Vijayabahu II |
Son of Parakramabahu’s sister |
1186-1187 |
Nissanka Malla |
Came from Kalinga kingdom in India |
1187-1196 |
Wickramabahu II |
Son of Nissanka Malla |
1196 |
Choda Ganga |
A nephew of Nissanka Malla |
1196-1197 |
Queen Leelavathi |
Wife of Parakramabahu I |
1197-1200 |
Sahasa Malla |
A relation of Nissanka Malla who came from Kalinga kingdom in India |
1200-1202 |
Queen Kalyanavathi |
Second wife of Nissanka Malla |
1202-1208 |
Dharmashoka |
Was made the king at the age of three months |
1208-1209 |
Anikanga Mahadipada |
Ruled the country for 17 days |
1209 |
Queen Leelavathi (restored) |
|
1209-1210 |
Lokeshwara |
Invader from Kalinga kingdom in India |
1210-1211 |
Queen Leelavathi (restored) |
|
1211-1212 |
Parakramabahu Pandu |
Invader from pandya kingdom in India |
1212-1215 |
Magha |
Invader from Kalinga kingdom in India |
1215-1236 |
| Dambadeniya |
|
|
| Vijayabahu III |
Also called "Vijayabahu Vathimi" and "Kalinga Vijayabahu". Does not belong to any Royal bloodline from Pollonnaruwa. Origin is unclear |
1232-1236 |
| Parakramabahu II |
Elder Son of Vijayabahu III. Defeated Indian invader Maga in Pollonnaruwa |
1244 -1279(?) |
| Vijayabahu IV |
Son of Parakramabahu II |
1270-1272 |
| Yapahuwa |
|
|
| Buwanekabahu I |
Brother of Vijayabahu IV. After living in Dambadeniya for some years, Shifted his rule to Yapahuwa |
1272-1284 |
| Parakramabahu III |
Son of Vijayabahu IV |
??? - 1293 |
| Kurunegala |
|
|
| Buwanekabahu II |
Son of Buwanekabahu I. Defeated Parakramabahu III and shifted the Kingdom to Kurunegala |
1293 - 1302 |
| Parakramabahu IV |
Son of Buwanekabahu II. After Parakramabahu IV's death the Kingdom was weakened and his sons split it into two. |
1325 or 1311/12 - 1325 or 1317/18 |
Buwanekabahu III
Vijayabahu V
|
Ruled Kurunegala North
Ruled Kurunegala South |
?? |
| Gampola |
|
|
| Buwanekabahu IV |
Made Gampola the capital of the Kingdom |
1341-1351 |
| Vicramabahu III |
Ruled in Peradeniya at during the time of Buwanekabahu IV. Shifted to Gampola after Buwanekabahu IV |
1357-1374 |
| Parakramabahu V |
Ruled the Dedigama Kingdom in Kegalle District during the time of Buwanekabahu IV |
1344-1359 |
| Buwanekabahu V |
Last ruler in Gampola. Escaped to Kotte in fear of Jaffna Kingdom. Spent the last years in Kotte |
1371-1408 |
| Kotte |
|
|
| Weerabahu |
Ruled after Buwanekabahu V |
(20 years) |
| Parakramabahu VI |
Attacked Jaffna and took it under the Sri Lankan Kingdom. |
1411-1463(?) |
| Jayaweera Parakramabahu |
Grandson of Parakramabahu VI |
ruled for 2 years |
| Buwanekabahu VI |
Was Prince Sapumal who successfully attacked Jafna and took under the Sri Lankan Kingdom during Parakramabahu. Later killed Jayaweera to capture the Kotte Kingdom |
ruled for 6 years 1471-1477 |
| Panditha Parakramabahu VII |
|
1477 |
| Weera Parakramabahu VIII |
Was "Ambulugala Raja". Brother of Buwanekabahu VI (Sapumal) . Killed Panditha Parakramabahu VII |
1477 - 1489 |
| Dharma Parakramabahu VIX |
Eldest son of Weera Parakramabahu VIII |
1489-1513 |
| Arrival of the Portuguese |
1505 |
| Vijayabahu VI |
Brother of Parakramabahu VIX |
1513-1521 |
| Buwanekabahu VII |
Vijayabahu VI was killed by the 3 sons - Buwanekabahu, Pararajasinhe and Mayadunne. Split the country into two and Buwanekabahu took Kotte, Pararajasinhe took Raigama Kingdom and Mayadunne the Seethawaka Kingdom. |
1521-1551 |
| Dharmapala |
Was baptised at young age by the Portuguese Missionaries. Converted to Christianity in 1555. Kelaniya Temple and the Kotte Dalada Maligawa was taken from the Buddhists and given to the missionaries. |
1551-1597 |
| End of the the Kotte Kingdom. Presented the Kingdom to the Portuguese by a deed after is death |
1597 |
| Raigama |
|
|
| Pararajasinhe |
One son of Vijayabahu VI of Kotte. |
1521-1538 |
| Seethawaka |
|
|
| Mayadunne |
One son of Vijayabahu VI of Kotte. Pararajasinhe (his brother) voluntarily gave the control of his kingdom to Mayadunne during his last years. Mayadunne attached Raigama Kingdom after the death of Pararajasinhe in 1538 |
1521-1581 |
| Rajasinghe I |
Son of Mayadunne. Took over the Kandyan Kingdom after disposing Dona Catherina, a Portuguese appointed queen in Kandy |
1581 - 1591(?) |
| Rajasuriya |
Elder Son of Rajasinghe I . The kingdom was run by a person called "Manamperuma". |
?? |
| Nikapitiye Bandara |
Manamperuma removed both sons of Rajasinghe I and gave the crown to "Nikapitiye Bandara" who was a grandson of the sister of Rajasinghe I . Was only 5 years old at that time. |
?? |
| Fall of the Seethawaka Kingdom to Portuguese |
1594 |
| Kandy |
|
|
| Sena Sammatha Wickramabahu |
Belongs to Kotte Royal Blood line (Ruled Kandy as a semi-indipendent kingdom under the Kotte Kingdom) |
1473-1511 |
| Jayaweera Astana |
Son of Sena Sammatha Wickramabahu. Became a Christian in 1546 |
1511-1551 |
| Karaliyadde Bandara |
Son of Jayaweera. Captured the throne from Jayaweera. Became a Christian to get protection from the Portuguese |
1551-1581 |
| Dona Catherina (Kusumasana Devi) |
Daughter of Karaliyedde Bandara. Converted to Catholicism by the Portuguese and appointed the queen of the Kandyan Kingdom by the Portuguese |
1581 |
| Rajasinghe I |
Disposed Dona Catherina. Ruled from Sitawaka Kingdom |
1581-1591 |
| Yamasinghe Bandara (Don Phillip) |
A nephew of Karaliyadde Bandara. Took control of Kandy with the help of the Portuguese |
|
| Wimaladharmasuriya I |
Name was Konappu Bandara and then Don Juan. Ousted Yamasinghe Bandara's son Don João who was 12 years old and assented to the throne as Wimaladharmasuriya. Became a Buddhist again and married Dona Catherina to establish the Royal Bloodline. Fought the Portuguese and freed Kandy from them. Famous battle of Danture was fought by him. |
1592 - 1604 |
| Senarat |
A cousin brother of king Wimaladharmasuriya I. Was a Buddhist monk and a devoted Buddhist. Didn't have the strength of a king. Married Dona Catherina again to establish a Royal Bloodline |
1604 - 1635 |
| Rajasinghe II |
A warrior king who build up the Kandy again and faced two major battles with the Portuguese and two with the Dutch. |
1635 - 1687 |
| Wimaladharmasuriya II |
Son of Rajasinghe II. Maintained a harmony with the Dutch. |
1687 - 1707 |
| Viraparakrama Narendrasinha |
Son of Wimaladharmasuriya II. Last Singhalese King of the Country |
1707 - 1739 |
| Sri Vijaya Rajasinhe |
Brother of the Viraparakrama Narendrasinha's queen who was of south Indian Nayakkar origin. Became a Buddhist |
1739 -1747 |
| Kirti Sri Rajasinhe |
Brother of the Sri Vijaya Rajasinhe's queen |
1747 - 1781 |
| Rajadhi Rajasinhe |
Brother of Kirti Sri Rajasinhe |
1781 - 1798 |
| Sri Wikrama Rajasinhe |
Last Sri Lankan King. Captured by the British and imprisoned in Vellore, India |
1798 - 1815 |
| Fall of Kandan Kingdom to the British |
1815 Feb 15 |
| Capture of Last king in Sri Lanka Thus ending probably the longest Royal Dynasty in the world which survived in Sri Lanka since 543 BC (over 2350 years) . |
1815 Feb 18 |
