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Alakeshvara
Alagakkonara (, ), also known as Alakeshwara, were a prominent feudal family that provided powerful ministers and military rulers during the medieval period in Sri Lanka. Although some historian say that the family was of Tamil origin originated from Madurai or Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, India.de Silva, A ''History of Sri Lanka'', p.138 They arrived in Sri Lanka around the 13th century and naturalized themselves in Sri Lanka. One member of the family is noted for founding the current capital of Sri Lanka, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte as a fort from which he waged a war against encroaching tax collectors from the Jaffna kingdom in the north. The family lost most of its influence after its leader was taken captive by the Ming Dynasty (Chinese) Admiral Zheng He in 1411.de Silva, A ''History of Sri Lanka'', p.137 Origin of the family The first member of the family to arrive in Sri Lanka was named ''Nissanka Alagakonara'', who migrated to Sri Lanka from a place called ''Vanchipura''de Silv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ming–Kotte War
The Ming–Kotte War () was a military conflict between the expeditionary forces of Ming dynasty, Ming China and the Sinhalese Kotte Kingdom in the southern territories of Sri Lanka. The conflict happened when Ming China's Ming treasure voyages, treasure fleet returned to Sri Lanka in 1410 or 1411 and resulted in the overthrow of King Alakeshvara of the Alagakkonara feudatory, who was replaced by Parakramabahu VI of Kotte, Parakramabahu VI of the previous royal family. Background In Sri Lanka, the Alagakkonara dynasty from South India, which gained dominance in Kotte, had waged a war against the Jaffna Kingdom. In that war, Vira Alakesvara of Gampola, Vira Alakeshvara gained military prestige. He soon came to power, ruled Kotte with a puppet king of the previous royal dynasty, and eventually usurped the throne of the kingdom. During the Ming treasure voyages, a large Chinese fleet, led by Admiral Zheng He, arrived into local waters to establish Chinese control and stability of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Feudal
Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was the combination of the legal, economic, military, cultural and political customs that flourished in Middle Ages, medieval Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of structuring society around relationships that were derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour. Although it is derived from the Latin word ''feodum'' or ''feudum'' (fief), which was used during the Medieval period, the term ''feudalism'' and the system which it describes were not conceived of as a formal political system by the people who lived during the Middle Ages. The classic definition, by François Louis Ganshof (1944),François Louis Ganshof (1944). ''Qu'est-ce que la féodalité''. Translated into English by Philip Grierson as ''Feudalism'', with a foreword by F. M. Stenton, 1st ed.: New York and London, 1952; 2nd ed: 1961; 3rd ed.: 1976. describes a set of reciprocal legal and Medieval warfare, military ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kelani River
The Kelani River ( si, කැළණි ගඟ) is a river in Sri Lanka. Ranking as the fourth-longest river in the country, it stretches from the Sri Pada Mountain Range to Colombo. It flows through or borders the Sri Lankan districts of Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Gampaha and Colombo. The Kelani River also flows through the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, and provides 80% of its drinking water. Hydrology The Kelani River has two main tributaries in its upper reaches: the Kehelgamu Oya and the Maskeli Oya. These two contribute to hydro-electric production in Sri Lanka, housing several major reservoirs, ponds and power stations. Castlereigh Reservoir and Norton Reservoir are constructed across the Kehelgamu Oya, while Maskeliya Reservoir, Canyon Reservoir and Laxapana Reservoir are constructed across the Maskeli Oya. In its lower reaches, some more tributaries connect to the Kelani River, out of which the most famous are the We Oya at Yatiyanthota, the Gurugoda Oya at ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sinhalese Kings
The Sinhalese monarch -- anachronistically referred to as the Kings of Sri Lanka—featured the heads of state of the Sinhala Kingdoms, in what is today Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese monarchy originates in the settlement of North Indian Indo-Aryan speaking immigrants to the island of Sri Lanka. The Landing of Vijay (as described in the traditional early chronicles of the island, the Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa) recounts the date of the establishment of the first Sinhala Kingdom in 543 BC when Indian prince Prince Vijaya (543–505 BC) and 700 of his followers arrived in Sri Lanka, establishing the Kingdom of Tambapanni.Mittal (2006) p 405 In Sinhalese mythology, Prince Vijaya and followers are told to be the progenitors of the Sinhalese people. However, according to the story in the Divyavadana, the immigrants were probably not led by a scion of a royal house in India, as told in the romantic legend, but rather may have been groups of adventurous and pioneering merchants exploring n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Monarchs Of Gampola
A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power in the Sovereign state, state, or others may wield that power on behalf of the monarch. Usually a monarch either personally inheritance, inherits the lawful right to exercise the state's sovereign rights (often referred to as ''the throne'' or ''the Crown, the crown'') or is elective monarchy, selected by an established process from a family or cohort eligible to provide the nation's monarch. Alternatively, an individual may self-proclaimed monarchy, proclaim themself monarch, which may be backed and Legitimacy (political), legitimated through acclamation, right of conquest or a combination of means. If a young child is crowned the monarch, then a regent is often appointed to govern until the monarch reaches the requisite adult a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
House Of Siri Sanga Bo
House of Siri Sanga Bo was a powerful dynasty which ruled parts of Sri Lanka from Vijayabahu III of Dambadeniya (1220–1224) until Rajasinha I of Sitawaka (1581–1591). Vijayabahu III of Dambadeniya routed Kalinga Magha's armies from Maya Rata and established his fortress at Dambadeniya. This dynasty was able to protect their independence by facing so many foreign invasions thereafter. They had to change their capital city to Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kurunagala because of continuous invasions from southern India. Rise of Dambadeniya In the reign of Kalinga Magha, native Sinhala people moved to south and Maya Rata because of his remorseless governance in Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. Meanwhile, this reign, a descendant of King Sirisangabo called " Vijayabahu III", fought against Kalinga Magha's armies and became the king of Dambadeniya. He obtained Lord Buddha's tooth relic and alms chalice to Dambadeniya from the place which Magha's people had buried them in Kotmale. He helped t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vira Alakesvara Of Gampola
Vira Alakesvara, also known as Vijayabahu VI, was the last King of Gampola who ruled from 1397 to 1411. He was the last prominent member of the Alagakkonara family. Biography His father was a minister of the local king Vikramabahu III of Gampola fortified a marshy region around present day Colombo region, on the marshes to the south of the Kelani River. His death is established as between 1382 and 1392. At his father's death, there was disunity in his family with family members fighting each other for power and procession. Kumara Alakesvara, half-brother of king Buwanekabahu V controlled the region from 1386–87 and was followed by Vira Alakesvara from 1387 onwards until 1391, when he was ousted by the rival claimants relative. He came back to power with the help of foreign mercenaries in 1399. He ruled until 1411 when he confronted the visiting Chinese Admiral Zheng He Zheng He (; 1371–1433 or 1435) was a Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, fleet admiral, and cour ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kotagama Inscription
The Kotagama inscription found in Kegalle District in Sri Lanka is a record of victory left by the Aryacakravarti kings of the Jaffna Kingdom in western Sri Lanka.Rasanayagm, ''Ancient Jaffna'', p.364 The inscription reads; Some historians attribute the inscriptions to Martanda Cinkaiariyan (died 1348) whereas others date it to the 15th century based on language usage.Peebles, ''History of Sri Lanka'', p.31-32 The inscription is written in Tamil script. See also * Annaicoddai seal * Tissamaharama Tamil Brahmi inscription Tissamaharama inscription No. 53 refers to a fragment of black and red ware flat dish inscribed in Brahmi script excavated at the earliest layer in southern town of Tissamaharama in Sri Lanka. It is dated to approximately 200 BC by German scholars w ... Notes References * * * * {{Jaffna kingdom Jaffna kingdom Tamil inscriptions in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka inscriptions ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Panadura
Panadura ( si, පානදුර, translit=Pānadura; ta, பாணந்துறை, translit=Pāṇantuṟai) is a city in Kalutara District, Western Province in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately south of Colombo and is surrounded on all sides by water; the Indian Ocean, the Bolgoda Lake and river. Panadura is famed as the location of important events in the Buddhist revival movement of Sri Lanka. Panadura Debate The Panadura Debate, held in 1873, was the climax of the first phase of the Buddhist revivalist movement which began with the establishment of the Society for the Propagation of Buddhism at Kotahena and the establishment of the Lankopakara Press in Galle. The two key persons in the Panadura Debate were Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera and Father David de Silva and the two key institutions were the Rankoth Viharaya and the Methodist Church of Panadura. It was the success of the Panadura Debate that prompted Colonel Henry Steel Olcott to come to Ceylon. Demog ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dematagoda
Dematagoda is in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 9 (Colombo 09). It is surrounded by Borella, Maradana and Kolonnawa. The Baseline Road passes through Dematagoda. The famous Sri Lankan Tamil broadcaster of Radio Ceylon fame, B. H. Abdul Hameed was born in Dematagoda. The only city in Sri Lanka to have 2 railway stations and the first city to have a flyover. Schools * Mukarramah International school * Anurudhdha Balika Maha Vidyalaya * JMC College International * Al-manaar School * Readway College * Sivalee Vidyalaya * St. John's College, Colombo, St. John's College * St. Matthew's College * Veluwana College * Vipulanantha Tamil Maha Vidyalayam * Wesley College, Colombo, Wesley College * Zahira College, Colombo Transport * Dematagoda Railway Station * Dematagada - Bambalapitiya (Kiribathgoda-Angulana) buses. The railway signal and telecommunication engineer's office is situated in Dematagoda. References Populated places in Western Province, Sri Lanka ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matale
Matale ( Sinhala: මාතලේ, ta, மாத்தளை, translit=Māttaḷai) is the administrative capital city of the Matale District. It is the most urbanised and populated centre in the district. Matale is also the second largest municipal and urban centre in central province after Kandy. It is located at the heart of the central hills of the island and lies in a broad, fertile valley at an elevation of above sea level. Surrounding the city are the Knuckles Mountain Range, the foothills were called ''Wiltshire'' by the British. They have also called this place as Matelle. History Matale is the only district of Sri Lanka, where an ancient book of written history is found. It is known as ''Pannagamam - பன்னாகமம் ("Five Headed Serpent" in English) of Goddess Muthumari in Sri Muthumariamman Temple, Matale.'' The most important historical incident in Matale is writing the thripitaka which was held during the ruling period of king Walagamba in 89-77 B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
