Vijaya's advent to Sri Lanka

by Husna Inayathullah

Around 2,500 years ago, the land of Lala in North India was ruled by king Sinhabahu and his Queen Sinhasivali. They had many children, the eldest was Vijaya.

Vijaya was an extremely mischievous prince. His father pardoned him many times for his unlawful acts, but finally the King got tired of his behaviour and put him on a boat with 700 of his companions and sent it adrift on the ocean.

For many days the boat sailed, before finally reaching Sri Lanka.

This group which set foot on Sri Lanka have sat down to rest, pressing their palms on the beach. Then they found that their palms had got reddened and they called that coast Thambapanni, meaning reddish colour palms.

Even before Vijaya landed in Lanka, the island was inhabited by the Yakkas and Nagas.

Kuveni

Kuveni was a Yakka queen who initially tried to kill Vijaya and his followers. Failing to do so, she convinced him into accepting her as his queen. Kuveni helped Vijaya defeat the Yakkas and become the ruler of the entire island. Vijaya, however, was not happy with Kuveni (possibly because she was of the Yakka tribe) and abandoned her and their two children.

He then married a beautiful princess from Madura (India), who had arrived on the island by ship.

Kuveni was killed by the Yakkas for her betrayal and her two children escaped into the forest. Vijaya and his new queen reigned over Sri Lanka for 38 years and brought the country to a state of prosperity.

The people

Apart from Yakkas and Nagas, the other native group who lived here when Vijaya arrived were the Veddahs. It is believed that the Veddahs came from India even before the arrival of the Aryans. They had been worshipping the dead, the trees and rocks.

They hunted animals for food and they were uncivilised. Apart from eating meat they used to eat yams, fruit and honey. According to The Mahawamsa Veddahs are descendants of Jeevahaththa and Disala, the children of Kuweni and Vijaya. Besides Yaksha, Raaksha, Naga and Veddah tribes, it is believed that a tribe called Pulindas too lived prior to the arrival of prince Vijaya.