King Kavantissa
King Kavantissa (also known as Kakavanna Tissa) was a great Sinhalese king who ruled in the ancient Ruhunu Kingdom of Sri Lanka. He holds an important place in history as the father of King Dutugemunu, who is considered the Great King of Sinhale, and as the king who laid the necessary fundamental groundwork for the defeat of the Tamil ruler Elara.
Family Background and Early Life
King Kavantissa was the grandson of King Mahānāga, who was the younger brother of King Devanampiyatissa. This connection demonstrates his close relationship with the royal lineage of the Ruhunu Kingdom. He belonged to the Sinhalese royal dynasty and worked to consolidate indigenous rule in Ruhuna.
It is said that King Kavantissa had two main marriages. From his first marriage, he had a son named Dighabhaya, and later, through Vihara Maha Devi, he had two more sons, Dutugemunu and Tissa. Prince Dutugemunu later played an exceedingly important role in the history of Sri Lanka.
Rule of the Ruhunu Kingdom
During King Kavantissa’s rule of the Ruhunu region, the Anuradhapura Kingdom was under the control of the Tamil ruler King Elara. This period was a challenging time in Sri Lankan history. With the threat of Tamil invaders from the north, King Kavantissa’s main role was to strengthen the Ruhunu Kingdom and protect Sinhalese identity.
Laying the Foundation for Elara’s Defeat
King Kavantissa laid the initial foundation for the great mission of unifying the Sinhalese kingdom and liberating it from Tamil rule. Although he did not directly fight against Elara, he prepared the necessary resources, military strength, and preliminary plans for his sons (especially Prince Dutugemunu) to face the battle in the north in the future. This far-sighted action later greatly assisted King Dutugemunu in defeating Elara and unifying Sri Lanka.
The Mahavamsa and Historical Significance
It is mentioned that the Mahavamsa, a major chronicle of Lanka, does not pay much attention to King Kavantissa. Nevertheless, due to the immense fame of his son, King Dutugemunu, and the foundational role he played in Sinhalese political and religious history, King Kavantissa is an unforgettable king in the history of Sri Lanka. He will forever be remembered as the king who set the stage for future battles for the independence of the Sinhalese nation.