Pre-historic kings and queens of Sri Lanka
by Dr. Mirando Obeysekera
One may wish to know who were the kings and queens of Sri Lanka after
the reign of Emperor Ravana. Sri Lanka had been a model of a salubrious
country all over the world during the days of Emperor Ravana 7500 BP.
According to Walmiki the Sanskrit poet of Ramayana of international fame
Sri Lanka had been a country having a fascinating architecture and
electricity.
 So, Ravanakatha, an ancient ola manuscript of Millawa Vannibandara
Rajaguru Mahakappina Wickramasinghe Adigar of Murunda Dynasty says that
Sri Lanka had a well established aircraft service and a navy very
powerful in the Indian Ocean.
But as a result of a great war between Rama and Ravana Sri Lanka lost
all her wealth and power and became a poor country depending on powerful
nations.
Navy
Therefore, Sri Lanka was prohibited to keep a navy and airforce by
other powerful countries. So, after the demise of Emperor Ravana,
Vibhisana his step brother came to power. He was a puppet ruler under
King Bharatha of North India. The Vibhisana dynasty held sway for a long
period of 500 years. According to Ravanakatha ola manuscript there were
seven kings in the Vibhisana dynasty.
The last king of Vibhisana dynasty was assassinated by a prince of
Emperor Ravana's clan and asended the throne as Ravana II. Thereafter 14
kings of the Ravana dynastry ruled Sri Lanka.
The Ravana kings were brave and independent rulers. They had
international support. Perakumba Sirita, an ancient poetry book of
Sinhala classic, states that a few kings in pre-historic Lanka as
“Nahuta, Sankita, and Panita”.
They ruled Sri Lanka as Vibhisana I, Ravana V. Later the European
Kings too followed this style.
Sri Lanka had a chain of 16 dynasties and 134 kings and one queen.
Kuveni was the last of Hela ethnic group. According to a certain ola
book Wijaya was the leader of a mercinary which brought to help Kuveni.
The invasion of foreign powers took place after Kuveni.
Sixteen dynasties and 135 kings ruled ancient Sri Lanka according to
The Ravanakatha, the oldest ola manuscript of Nilgalla Walauwa.
Ravana
Vibhisana I came to power after the demise of Emperor Ravana, the
Vibhisana dynasty had seven kings and they governed a part of Sri Lanka
including the whole coastal belt.
The founder of the Wiramunda dynasty was a relation of Emperor
Ravana. They succeeded the Ravana dynasty. The Wiramunda dynasty had
five kings. Dedimunda, a step-brother of Wiramunda V. assassinated
Wiramunda and enthromed himself as Dedimunda I. There were seven Kings
of the Dedimunda dynastry. Thereafter, a great grandson of Ravana the
14th came to power as Murundai.
All the royal families were connected to each other, there were 14
kings of Murunda dynasty. Murunda dynasty followed was by Desha dynasty
which had only two kings and lost, as they were too weak. Thereafter,
the Wardhana dynastry came to power.
Wardhana I was a nephew of the last Murunda King. Although the
Wardhanas were a new dynasty they had connections to all previous
dynasties who had governed ancient Sri Lanka. The Sakka dynasty came to
power after the Wardhanas. They had 15 kings. The Sakka was a mixture of
Persian Devas, Kumbhanda was the other name for Devas.
The Sakka dynasty was followed by the Sekaras who had nine kings.
They had and ethnic connection with the Nagas. The Sekara dynasty was
followed by Thilaka dynasty which had seven kings.
Again the Murunda dynasty became powerful and governed the country.
For the second term they had only 10 kings. In all there were 24 Murunda
Kings. The last King of Murunda clan fled to Pumdu Kingdom, Mangalore
and ruled for a short time. The Natha dynasty succeeded the Murunda
dynasty and they had 12 kings. Thereafter a branch of Ravana dynasty
named the “Singha” dynasty ruled Lanka.
Eight kings of the Soorya dynasty, connected to Vibhisana, came to
power. The Varna dynasty had 12 kings. The last dynasty was Bamba
dynasty which had three kings and one queen Kuveni was the last of Hella
dynasties.
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