King Loka [1048-1054 CE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
Parakrama Pandu [1046-1048 CE]	Loka [1048-1054 CE]	Kassapa VII [1048-1054 CE]
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

Loka, referred to in various chronicles as Lokissara or Lokesvara, was a powerful military leader who ruled from the southern principality of Ruhuna (Rohana) during a period when the Rajarata heartland was under firm Chola domination. His reign is conventionally dated to approximately 1048–1054 CE.

Beginnings and Royal Heritage

The Cūḷavaṃsa does not describe Loka as a member of the established royal dynasty but identifies him as a native of Makkhakudrūsa who rose to prominence as a “commander of the army.” Unlike many claimants who emerged during this eleventh-century dark decade, he lacked a clearly defined royal pedigree, as the Sinhalese dynastic line was regarded as effectively extinct after the death of Vikkamabāhu I. Loka assumed authority in Ruhuna following the death of Parakkama Paṇḍu (1046-1048 CE), a Pandya prince who had been killed by Chola forces.

Throughout his six-year reign, Loka’s principal seat of government was at Kataragama (Kājaragāma). The Pūjāvaliya, however, offers an alternative tradition, placing his seat at Mandakavidu Tota (මඩ කවිඩු කොට).

Political Environment and Internal Conflict

The political setting of Loka’s rule was shaped by the Chola occupation of the northern Rajarata province, while Ruhuna functioned as the principal base of Sinhalese resistance and was regarded as the “stronghold of freedom.” At the same time, his authority was undermined by internal disorder and factional conflict among the Sinhalese themselves.

Despite these internal divisions, Loka is credited in the chronicles with “breaking the arrogance of the Colas” and with safeguarding both the Buddhist Order and the lay population at a time when foreign forces were devastating the island. He succeeded in maintaining an indigenous administration in the south, even as the Chola viceroy ruled the north from Polonnaruwa.

His principal internal rival was a chieftain named Buddharāja, who established an independent armed camp at the foothills of the Malaya mountains at Hunuvala near Opanayake. During this period, Buddharāja became the protector of the young prince Kitti, a descendant of the royal house and the future Vijayabāhu I. Kitti emerged as a major opponent of Loka, and a series of skirmishes took place between their forces at Bovala near Kirama in the district of Hunuvala.

Significant Artifacts

Loka is historically notable for his numismatic legacy. The sources record the existence of “two gold coins of Loka” preserved in the British Museum, making him one of the very few rulers of this turbulent period known to have issued a recognized currency.

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 I–II. Pali Text Society. (Original work published 1815)
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.
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.
Obeyesekere, D. (1911). History of Ceylon : Outlines of Ceylon History. The Times of Ceylon Colombo.