King Buvanekabahu III [1302-1326 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
Parakramabahu IV [1302-1326 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-	Buvanekabahu III [1226–1335 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-	Vijayabahu V [1335–1341 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Buvanekabāhu III, also recorded in historical sources as Vanni Buvanekabāhu or Bhuvanaikabāhu III, ruled from the Kurunegala Kingdom during the early 14th century, approximately between 1326 and 1335 CE. His reign represents a short and relatively obscure transitional phase following the death of King Parākramabāhu IV and preceding the emergence of the Savuḷu dynasty under King Vijayabāhu V.

Buvanekabāhu III is traditionally regarded as a descendant of the Dambadeniya dynasty and is believed to have succeeded Parākramabāhu IV within the recognized line of royal succession. His distinctive epithet, Vanni, is of particular historical importance. In the political vocabulary of 13th- and 14th-century Lanka, a Vanni referred to a tribal chieftain or regional ruler who exercised authority over extensive forest territories between Anuradhapura and Jaffna. Scholars therefore suggest that the use of this title indicates that Buvanekabāhu III may originally have established his power base as a Vanni chieftain before ascending the throne.

Rise to Power and Political Transition

The accession of Buvanekabāhu III took place in a climate of severe internal disorder. Historical traditions refer to a major rebellion led by a figure named Bōdā-māpāṇan-da toward the end of King Parākramabāhu IV’s reign. This uprising was reportedly so destructive that it compelled the Buddhist clergy to abandon the capital, effectively bringing the stability of the Kurunegala court to an end.

It was within this political vacuum that Buvanekabāhu III asserted his authority. However, his reign is generally interpreted as an interim phase rather than the foundation of a new and stable dynasty. The primary chronicles provide little detail regarding his personal life or administrative activities, and his rule remains one of the least documented episodes in the late Kurunegala period.

Ancient Manuscripts Detailing the Sovereigns of Sri Lanka

Sovereigns of Sri Lanka are chronicled in several ancient manuscripts. These texts not only record the lineages of kings but also the significant events and developments of their reigns. Some of the most significant ancient sources are:

Dipavamsa: compiled between the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, and the earliest known historical chronicle
Mahavamsa: Initially compiled by Mahanama Thero in the 5th or 6th century CE, this chronicle was later expanded upon by other authors who added additional chapters. Covers events up until the reign of King Mahasena of Anuradhapura
Culavamsa: Starts where the Mahavamsa stops and records the history of Sri Lankan rulers from the 4th century to 1815. Mahavamsa and Culavamsa are often seen as one extended chronicle, commonly referred to simply as the Mahavamsa.
Pujavaliya: Written by a monk in or around 1266 during the reign of King Panditha Parakrama Bahu of Dambadeniya Kingdom
Rajavaliya: A 17th-century historical chronicle of Sri Lanka, covering the history of the island from its beginnings up to the accession of King Vimaladharmasurya II in 1687.

References

Geiger, W., & Rickmers, C. M. (1929). Culavamsa: Being The More Recent Part Of The Mahavamsa: Vol. Part II–II. Pali Text Society. (Original work published 1815)
Gunasekara, B. (1895). A Contribution to the History of Ceylon: Translated from Pujavaliya. H.C. Cottle.
Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
Modder, F. (1893). Kurunegala Vistaraya; with notes on Kurunegala, ancient and modern. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch), 13(44), 35–57.
Nicholas, C. W., & Paranavitana, S. (1961). A Concise History of Ceylon: From the Earliest Times to the Arrival of the Portuguese in 1505. University of Ceylon.
Paranavitana, S. (1961). The Arya Kingdom in North Ceylon. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch), 7(2), 174–224. [121–144]

Predecessor		Successor
Parakramabahu IV [1302-1326 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-	Buvanekabahu III [1226–1335 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-	Vijayabahu V [1335–1341 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA