King Sena V [972-982 CE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
Mahinda IV [956-972 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Sena V [972-982 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Mahinda V [982-1029 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Sena V (972–982 CE) was a ruler of the Second Lambakaṇṇa Dynasty whose reign was marked by internal disorder, military rebellion, and the growing influence of foreign mercenaries. He ascended the throne following a period of relative stability under his father, King Mahinda IV.

Sena V was the son of Mahinda IV and a Kalinga princess, whose marriage had been a strategic alliance intended to strengthen the kingdom against the Cholas. Only twelve years old at the time of his father’s death in 972 CE, Sena V was consecrated as king and assumed the regnal name Salamevan (also known as Abha Salamevan or Silameghavanna). His brother, Udaya, was appointed yuvarāja.

The Political Environment and Rule

The political climate of Sena V’s reign was characterized by instability, internal conflict, and a breakdown of central authority. His rule was deeply affected by a major rupture with the military leadership. Sena V had a younger brother named Mahamalla, who was executed after the king discovered that he had been involved in an illicit relationship with the queen mother, the Kalinga princess.

This act enraged the powerful senāpati Sena, who was Mahamalla’s father. While the senāpati was stationed on the frontier, the king replaced him with a loyal officer named Udaya. In response, Sena marched on the capital with an army reinforced by Tamil mercenaries. Fearing for his life, Sena V fled to Ruhuna. Notably, the queen mother and the yuvarāja Udaya remained in the capital and aligned themselves with the rebellious senāpati, who established his authority at Polonnaruwa. During this period, the Tamil mercenaries devastated the country, plundering it “like devils,” as described in the sources.

Eventually, a settlement was reached between the king and the senāpati. Sena V returned to the capital and married the daughter of the senāpati, with whom he later had a son named Kassapa.

The historical sources record few positive accomplishments during Sena V’s reign. Instead, they emphasise his personal decline. Influenced by what are described as “low-born favorites,” he became heavily addicted to intoxicating drink. The chronicles portray him as descending into a state of madness, likening him to a “wild beast,” and note that he even lost the ability to digest food properly. He died at the young age of twenty-two, in the tenth year of his reign, in 982 CE.

Impact on the Future Kingdom

The most lasting consequence of Sena V’s reign was the severe weakening of royal authority within the Anurādhapura Kingdom. The unchecked violence of foreign mercenaries and the collapse of military discipline during his rule directly paved the way for the failure of his successor, Mahinda V. This prolonged instability left the kingdom fatally vulnerable, turning it into a “ripe fruit” for the final Chola conquest that soon brought the Anurādhapura period to an end.

Royal Dynasty from Kassapa V to King Dappula III to Vickramabahu I

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.
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.
Paranavitana, S. (1959). History of Ceylon (University of Ceylon): Vol. 1 (part 1)–3. Ceylon University Press.

Predecessor		Successor
Mahinda IV [956-972 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Sena V [972-982 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Mahinda V [982-1029 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA