Sovereigns of Sri Lanka: King Kittsiri Meghavanna [555-573 CE]

Kittsiri Meghavanna (also known as Kittisiri Megha, Kuda Kithsiri Mevan) ascended to the throne following the death of his father. His mother, the queen, ensured his succession by eliminating any potential rivals through poisoning.

According to the Culavamsa, he reigned for only 19 days before being killed by Mahanaga. However, many scholars believe this to be an error, arguing that his reign likely lasted 19 years. This view is supported by events recorded in Rohana during this period and some copies of the Culavamsa, Rajavaliya, and Pujavaliya manuscripts, which also indicate a 19-year reign, a duration considered far more plausible.

His rule was peaceful and nothing significant is recorded. However, although Kittsiri Meghavanna was the king, the country was governed by his mother who had no experience in running the affairs of a country. This created chaos and there was much maladministration. In the absence of any strict supervision, the officials stooped to bribery, and the powerful in the land overawed the weak with impunity. The people were naturally disheartened, and the time was ripe for rebellion.

This presented the perfect opportunity for Mahanaga, a descendant of the Moriyan dynasty, who had been biding his time in Rohana to seize the throne. He marched to Anuradhapura with an army, overthrew King Kittsiri Meghavanna, and assumed control of the kingdom.

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:

1. Dipavamsa: compiled between the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, and the earliest known historical chronicle
2. 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
3. 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.
4. Pujavaliya: Written by a monk in or around 1266 during the reign of King Panditha Parakrama Bahu of Dambadeniya Kingdom
5. 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

1. Blaze, L. E. (2004). History of Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. (Original work published 1933)
2. Geiger, W., & Rickmers, C. M. (1929). Culavamsa: Being The More Recent Part Of The Mahavamsa: Vol. Part I–II. Pali Text Society.
3. 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.
4. Obeyesekere, D. (1911). Outlines of Ceylon History. The Times of Ceylon Colombo.
5. Paranavitana, S. (1959). History of Ceylon (University of Ceylon): Vol. 1 (part 1)–3. Ceylon University Press.
6. Suraweera, A. V. (2014). රාජාවලිය. Education Publication Department of Sri Lanka. (Original book published in 1976 from the original documents from the 17th century)

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