The consecration of King Vasabha marked the beginning of the Lambakanna Dynasty, which succeeded the long-established Vijaya Dynasty. The Vijaya Dynasty had ruled Sri Lanka from 543 BCE, starting with King Vijaya, and ending in 59 CE with the reign of King Yasalalaka Tissa.

Suba, the former doorkeeper of the throne room, ascended to power after the fatal prank by King Yasalalaka Tissa led to the king’s execution. With no legitimate claim to the throne, Suba depended heavily on the support of the military to maintain his authority. Simultaneously, he sought to gain the favor of the religious community by making contributions to the monks and sponsoring the construction of monasteries.

Yasalalaka Tissa, only 17 years old when he assassinated his brother and seized the throne, was regarded as immature both in thought and actions. His reign lasted for 7 years and 8 months before it ended, largely due to the same impulsive and youthful behaviour that marked his rise to power.

The Lambakanna clan is thought to descend from the princes who accompanied Theri Sanghamitta to Sri Lanka, bringing with them the sacred sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi in 306 BCE. The Mahavamsa first references this powerful clan during King Ilanga’s era. By then, the Lambakannas had likely developed into a formidable political and administrative entity, significantly influencing the governance of the kingdom.

Chandamukha Siva, the son of King Ilanga and Queen Sivali, was fated as an infant to be trampled by the royal elephant. However, fortune intervened; the elephant not only spared the child but also saved him and his father from the Lambakannas. Three years later, the king would return to triumph over his enemies and the Prince Chandamukha Siva would claim the throne after his father.

King Ilanga rose to power by dethroning Queen Sivali and taking the throne of Anuradhapura. He was the son of the sister of King Amanda-Gamini Abhaya, making him a member of the royal lineage. However, before he could fully establish his authority, he faced significant challenges from the influential Lambakanna Clan.

After the death of Chulabhaya, his younger sister and the daughter of Amanda Gamini Abhaya, Queen Sivali (also known as Revathi) reigned Anuradhapura for a short period of 4 months. She was dethroned by Ilanga, a nephew of Amanda-Gamini Abhaya (sister’s son).

King Chulabhaya was the son of King Amanda Gamini Abhaya. After the death of King Kanirajanu Tissa, Chulabhaya was consecrated as the king of Anuradhapura kingdom. He was succeeded by Queen Sivali who ruled for just 4 months.

During King Kanirajanu Tissa’s reign, a dispute emerged among the monks of the Mihintale Monastery. The king was called upon to mediate and listen to both parties before delivering his verdict. However, a faction of monks who felt the decision was unjust became enraged. As the king was about to leave, around 60 monks rushed at him with the intent to kill.

King Amanda Gamini Abhaya of Anuradhapura was the son of King Mahadathika Mahanaga and came to power upon the death of his father. During the 73-year period under the last four sovereigns, the country experienced a time of relative peace, free from external invasions or internal power struggles.

King Mahadathika Mahanaga of Anuradhapura was the son of King Kutakanna Tissa and brother of King Bhathika Abhaya. He came to power upon the death of his brother King Bhatika Abhaya. Mahadathika Mahanaga’s reign was relatively peaceful, with no significant internal or external threats to the kingdom.

King Bhatika Abhaya of Anuradhapura was the son of King King Kutakanna Tissa who was also known among the people as Bhatikaraja (Bhatika Raja). Known for his dedication to Buddhist principles, Manahavansa describes his contributions to Maha Viharaya, especially Ruwanweli Maha Seya.

Prince Kutakanna Tissa is the son of King Mahaculi Mahathissa who had fled the Anuradhapura kingdom for fear of Queen Anula during the period of terror running the palace by poisoning five men each placing in the throne for a short period of time.

Queen Anula of Anuradhapura, was Sri Lanka’s first recorded female ruler and one of its most controversial figures. Her path to power included poisoning six husbands and lovers including King Coranaga, King Tissa, the palace guard Siva, the carpenter Vatuka, the woodcutter Darubhatika Tissa, and the palace Brahmin Niliya.

Niliya, the palace Brahmin priest of Anuradhapura, became another in the series of Anula’s ill-fated kings. Within just a year and a month of King Darubhatika Tissa’s rule, Anula poisoned Tissa to elevate Niliya, her latest love interest, to the throne. He made Anula his queen and ruled for only six months before falling victim to her once again; she poisoned him and took the throne to herself.

About a year after the city carpenter Vatuka became the king, Queen Anula saw a wood carrier named Darubhatika who had come to the palace and fell in love with him and poisoned her 4th victim, King Vatuaka. Queen Anula placed Darubhatika Tissa as the king and became his queen.

King Vatuka, of Tamil origin and by trade, a carpenter, was the next figure entangled in Queen Anula’s ambitious and ruthless succession manoeuvres in ancient Anuradhapura. After poisoning of King Tissa, the son of Mahaculi Mahatissa, Queen Anula installed Siva, a palace gatekeeper, as king.

King Siva, formerly a palace gate keeper, ascended to the throne of Anuradhapura through the influence of Queen Anula, who orchestrated a series of poisons and political manoeuvres to consolidate her power. Initially, Queen Anula had poisoned her husband, King Coranaga, and installed Prince Tissa, the son of King Mahaculi Mahatissa, as king. However, her affections shifted, and a year later, she poisoned King Tissa to make her lover, Siva, the ruler.

King Tissa, also known as Kuda Tissa, succeeded King Coranaga after Coranaga was poisoned by his queen, Anula. The son of King Mahaculi Mahatissa, Tissa’s rule was brief, lasting approximately three years. However, like his predecessor, Tissa’s fate was sealed by palace intrigue; Queen Anula, who had developed an affection for a palace guard, poisoned Tissa to remove him from power.

King Coranaga, also known as Coranaga or Koraṇḍañña, was a ruler of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka during 62-50 BCE. He was known for a turbulent rule marked by retribution and bloodshed, especially directed toward the Buddhist clergy and other ruling family members, likely due to personal grievances and family feuds.