King Saddhatissa [137-119 BCE]

Predecessor		Successor
King Dutugemunu [161-137 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Saddhatissa [137-119 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Thulatthana [119 BCE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Saddhatissa, the younger brother of King Dutugemunu, assumed the throne in 137 BCE following Dutugemunu’s death. Prior to Dutugemunu’s victory over Elara in Rajarata, the two brothers had clashed twice in battles over control of Ruhuna. However, with the mediation of Buddhist monks, they resolved their differences and eventually collaborated to unify the kingdom under a single rule.

Completion of Ruwanweli Maha Stupa

The primary contribution of King Saddhatissa is recorded as the completion of the Ruwanweli Seya Stupa and the construction of the Elephant Wall around the stupa.

During his final days, King Dutugemunu, who was gravely ill, grew concerned about the unfinished work on the Ruwanweliseya Maha Stupa, especially the plasterwork and the completion of the chattra (umbrella structure). Knowing his end was near, he summoned his brother, Prince Tissa (later King Saddhatissa), who was ruling Digavapi at the time, and entrusted him with the completion of the stupa.

Tissa, understanding his brother’s fragile state, constructed a temporary solution by covering the stupa with white cloth and creating a bamboo chattra painted white. He then assured Dutugemunu that the stupa was complete. This gesture allowed the ailing king to visit the stupa one last time in a palanquin, pay homage, and peacefully pass away in the sight of this monumental achievement.

After Dutugemunu’s passing, Saddhatissa took the throne and eventually completed the construction of the Ruwanweliseya stupa. Saddhatissa’s contributions also extended to rebuilding the Lovamahaprasada, as a seven-story chapter house at the Maha Viharaya, after it was accidentally destroyed in a fire caused by an oil lamp.

Children of King Saddhatissa

According to the Mahavamsa, King Saddhatissa had at least two sons. The elder was Lanjatissa, who was appointed to manage the Deeghavapi region. Deeghavapi served as the primary rice producer for the Rohana Kingdom. During his tenure, he built the Girikumbila Viharaya. His youngest son, Thulathana, constructed a Viharaya known as Kandara, though its exact location remains unidentified today.

Works of King Saddhatissa

Ruwanwelisaya Stupa: Construction was started by King Dutugemunu but completed by King Saddhatissa. Unfortunately, King Dutugemunu didn’t live to see the completion of his greatest work.
Elelphant Wall around Ruwanweli Maha Seya
Reconstruction of Lovamahapaya: After the 9 storied building was burned down, it was reconstructed as a 7-storied building.
Dhakkinagiri Viharaya : Not Identified
Kallakalena Viharaya : Not Identified
Kalambaka Viharaya : Not Identified
Pettangavalika Viharaya: Not Identified
Velangavitthika Viharaya: Not Identified
Dubbalavapi Tissaka Viharaya: Not Identified
Duratissaka Vapi Viharaya: Viharaya not identified. Duratissaka Vapi, also referred to as Duratissa Vapi is traditionally believed to be the ancient reservoir known today as Yodhakandiya Wewa. This reservoir, attributed to King Mahanaga (3rd century BC), who founded the Rohana Kingdom, holds historical significance as one of the earliest irrigation systems in the southern region of Sri Lanka (Somadeva, 2006).
Matuviharaka Viharaya: Not Identified
Deeghawapi Viharaya: Prince Tissa used Digavapi as his base of operations until he ascended to the throne following the death of his brother, King Dutugemunu. Digavapi, located in southeastern Sri Lanka, served as a stronghold and administrative center for Tissa.
Padi Vapi Reservoir: As per Pujavaliya, a manuscript written in the 13th century. There is a strong belief by reputed archaeologists that this is the present-day Padaviya Wewa Reservoir in Padaviya (Paranavitana, 1958).
Building of Viharayas every yojuna from Anuradhapura to Deeghavapi.
A total of 18 irrigation reservoirs, as per Rajavaliya, the ancient manuscript of the 17th century.

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

Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya or a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
Mahanama, Geiger, W., & Bode, M. H. (1912). The Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger. For the Pali Text Society by Henry Frowde.
Paranavitana, S. (1958). The Ancient names and Builder of the Padaviya and Naccaduva tanks. University of Ceylon Review, July-October 1958.
Somadeva, R. (2006). Urban Origins in Southern Sri Lanka (Doctoral thesis in archaeology at Uppsala University). Studies in Global Archaeology, Uppsala.

Predecessor		Successor
King Dutugemunu [161-137 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Saddhatissa [137-119 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Thulatthana [119 BCE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA