King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha [1781-1798 CE]

King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha [1798-1815 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha [1781-1798 CE] -House of Nayakkars of Kandy-	King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha [1798-1815 CE] -House of Nayakkars of Kandy-	Fall of Kandyan Kingdom to British in 1815
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

The reign of Śrī Vikrama Rājasinha (r. 1798–1815) represents the final phase of the Kandyan Kingdom and the termination of indigenous monarchical rule in Sri Lanka. Ascending the throne as an unassuming youth, his nearly seventeen-year reign was marked by volatile struggles against both the expanding British Empire and the entrenched Kandyan aristocracy. Although later narratives frequently portray him as a cruel dictator, his position was deeply shaped by ministerial manipulation and British imperial ambition.

Early Life and Dynastic Background

Born around 1780, the future monarch was originally known as Kannasāmy. He was the son of a sister of King Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha. His parentage was described by certain observers as “doubtful,” reflecting the complex lineage of the South Indian Nāyakkar dynasty, which had occupied the throne since 1739.

Although born and raised in Sri Lanka, Kannasāmy, as a member of the Telegu-speaking Nāyakkar clan, remained culturally distinct from the Sinhalese aristocracy. His early years passed in relative obscurity until the sudden death of the childless Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha in 1798 created a succession crisis.

Accession: Instrument of Pilimathalawa

The elevation of Kannasāmy was orchestrated by Pilimathalawa, the First Adigār (chief minister). An ambitious noble claiming descent from ancient Sinhalese royalty, Pilimathalawa selected the eighteen-year-old youth—young, politically inexperienced, and lacking a strong hereditary claim—anticipating that he would serve as a compliant figurehead. His long-term strategy was to use the king as a temporary placeholder before seizing the crown himself.

In 1798, Kannasāmy was consecrated as Śrī Vikrama Rājasinha, becoming the fourth and final Nāyakkar ruler. Contrary to expectations, the young monarch progressively asserted his independence. By 1801, he had begun to free himself from his minister’s control, a shift that unsettled the Adigārs, who perceived their influence over both the court and the kingdom’s subjects steadily diminishing.

Conflict with the British: The First Kandyan War

The reign of Śrī Vikrama Rājasinha coincided with the appointment of Frederick North as the first British civil governor in 1798. North aimed to bring the central highlands under British influence and entered into covert dealings with the disaffected Pilimathalawa. The minister attempted to engineer a conflict, believing British intervention would facilitate his own ascendancy.

In 1803, British forces launched a two-pronged invasion of Kandy with approximately 3,400 troops. Finding the capital deserted, they installed a rival claimant, Muttusāmi, brother-in-law of the previous king, Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha. Following the Rajadhi Rajasinha‘s death in 1798, a power struggle had developed between Muttusami and Pilimatalawe.

After the accession of Śrī Vikrama Rājasinha, and fearing for his safety, Muttusāmi had fled to British-controlled territory and sought protection. The British Governor, Frederick North, regarded him as a useful instrument through whom influence might be extended over the independent Kingdom of Kandy.

The occupation soon deteriorated. The British garrison, debilitated by beri-beri and malaria, found itself surrounded by Kandyan forces.

In June 1803, Major Davie surrendered. During the ensuing disorder, nearly the entire British contingent was killed, a blow that severely damaged British prestige. Encouraged by this success, Śrī Vikrama Rājasinha mounted a counter-offensive in 1804, advancing to within approximately 24 kilometers (15 miles) of Colombo. However, his forces were decisively defeated at Hanwella, compelling his withdrawal to the mountainous interior.

Consolidation of Power and Execution of Pilimathalawa

After the British defeat, the king’s rule became increasingly authoritarian. He regarded the Kandyan nobility with suspicion, fearing covert collaboration with the British.

Tensions with Pilimathalawa culminated in 1811 (or 1812), when the minister allegedly organized an assassination plot involving members of the royal guard. The conspiracy was uncovered, and Pilimathalawa was executed along with several relatives. Although this eliminated a formidable rival, it further isolated the monarch from the Kandyan elite.

The Ehelēpola Affair

Following Pilimathalawa’s execution, his nephew Ehelēpola became First Adigār. Mutual distrust soon emerged. In 1814, fearing royal retribution, Ehelēpola initiated a rebellion in Sabaragamuwa and sought British protection.

In retaliation, Śrī Vikrama Rājasinha ordered the execution of Ehelēpola’s family. His four children were beheaded, and their mother and sisters were subsequently put to death. This act profoundly alienated the Kandyan chiefs and common populace, transforming political opposition into moral condemnation.

Collapse of the Kingdom (1815)

The final crisis was triggered by the king’s treatment of British subjects. In 1814, ten cloth merchants were detained in Kandyan territory on suspicion of espionage and severely mutilated. The British governor, Sir Robert Brownrigg, used the incident as justification for war, formally declaring hostilities on 10 January 1815.

The British invasion encountered limited resistance. The influential Adigār Molligoda defected, surrendering the strategically vital Four Kōralēs province. British forces entered Kandy on 14 February 1815. The king fled to Dumbara but was captured on 18 February by followers of Ehelēpola in a cave near Medamahanuwara.

On 2 March 1815, the Kandyan Convention was signed, formally deposing Śrī Vikrama Rājasinha and transferring sovereignty to the British Crown. This act concluded more than 2,300 years of continuous indigenous monarchical rule in Sri Lanka.

Exile in India (1816–1832)

Following his capture, Śrī Vikrama Rājasinha was taken to Colombo, where he remained until January 1816. On 24 January 1816, he was deported to India together with approximately one hundred relatives and dependents. He was subsequently confined in the fort at Vellore.

Accounts of his exile record several notable details. Although designated a state prisoner, he was provided with generous provisions and allowed a limited degree of ceremonial movement within the fort. British officers described him as dignified in bearing, possessing a handsome beard and an affable disposition, though subject at times to sudden outbursts of temper. He was also described as exceptionally large and overweight.; it was reported that when traveling in a palanquin, he padded his garments with a large cushion to accentuate his physical presence.

Death and the End of the Nāyakkar Line

Śrī Vikrama Rājasinha died on 30 January 1832 at the age of fifty-two. The cause of death was recorded as dropsy. His only son died childless in 1843, bringing the Nāyakkar dynasty to its definitive end.

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

Abeyasinghe, T. B. H. (1995). History of Sri Lanka. In K. M. De Silva (Ed.), The Kingdom of Kandy: Foundations and foreign relations to 1638 (Vols. 2–3, pp. 139–161). University of Peradeniya.
Blaze, L. E. (1900). A history of Ceylon. Christian Literature Society.
Codrington, H. W., & Hocart, A. M. (1926). A Short History of Ceylon. Mac Millan and Co Limited.
De Queyroz, F. (1992). The Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylon: Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century Account of Ceylon (S. G. Perera, Trans.; Vols. 1–2). (Original work published 1687)
De Silva, C. R. (1972). The Portuguese in Ceylon 1617-1638. H. W. Cave and Co.
Dewaraja, L. S. (1988). The Kandyan Kingdom of Sri Lanka 1707-1782. Stamford Lake (Pvt) Ltd.
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. (1900). The Rajavaliya or a historical narrative of Sinhalese kings from Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
Johnston, A. (1811). Narrative of the operations of a detachment in an expedition to Candy in the Island of Ceylon in the year 1804. James McGlashan.
Knox, R. (1681). An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon, in the East-indies: Together, With an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers Other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author’s Miraculous Escape. Richard Chifwell.
Obeyesekere, D. (1911). Outlines of Ceylon history. Times of Ceylon.
Obeyesekere, G. (2022). The many faces of the Kandyan Kingdom 1591-1765. Sailfish.
Valentijn, F. (1978). François Valentijn’s Description of Ceylon (S. Arasaratnam, Trans.). Hakluyt Society. (Original work published 1724)
Wickremesekera, C. (2004). Kandy at War: Indigenous Military Resistance to European Expansion in Sri Lanka 1594-1818. Manohar Publishers & Distributors.
Wijesekera, N. (1998). Story of the Sri Lankans. Sridevi Publication.

Predecessor		Successor
Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha [1781-1798 CE] -House of Nayakkars of Kandy-	King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha [1798-1815 CE] -House of Nayakkars of Kandy-	Fall of Kandyan Kingdom to British in 1815
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA