From the time of Vijaya to the British Period, a list of Karava greats, who had made a mark in the contemporary history of Ceylon.
A partial list of Prince and Princesses as listed in the book Kurukula Charithaya Part II by A. S. F. Weerasuriya, 1960.
Rama Period:
Prince and Princesses of Kururata (Ravana, Rajavaliya etc.).
Vijaya Period:
Karavanta Sub King(1) and Queen, Princes and Princesses.
King Devanampiyatissa the 2nd:
During his reign, Arahath Mahinda, son of emperor Dharmashoka brought the message of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Later on his sister Bhikkuni Arahath Sangamitta came to Sri Lanka to establish the Bhikkuni Shasana in Sri Lanka and was accompanied by members of many casts. Over 50 Kaurava people accompanied her, and settled in the land. Arahath Sangamitta also brought with her a sapling of the right branch of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi of Buddhagaya. This sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Branch received by the King and planted in the Mahamewuna Garden Anuradhapura over 2000 years ago, is the oldest documented tree in the world.
King Dutugemunu:
Prince Chandrakulasuriya Sedigala – Panadura
Prince Jayasiri Adittya Jayawarnakulasuriya – Moratuwa
King Gajabahu the 1st; 113 – 135 AD
Warriors invited from ‘Kuru Rata’, Aluth Kururata – Dandugama
King Parakramabahu; 1164 – 1197
Additya Dravida Adigar or Surya Tamel Admiral – Polonnaruwa
Kurukula Adittya Appan Tantula – do –
Kurukula Adittya Deva Tantula – do –
Queen Leelawathie; 1208 – 1210
Lak Vijaya Singukith Senevi (Commander) – Polonnaruwa
(He was entrusted with the command of one hundred thousand of soldiers, and was based at Moratuwa. He came to be known as ‘Lakshadipaty’ and the area he lived is still known as ‘Lakshapathiya’.)
Parakramabahu the 2nd:
Kaurava Adittya Arasa Nila Yitta Kumara Tamel (Sub King or Yuwa Raja).
Vijayabahu the 6th; 1285 – 1287:
Thakura Artha Deva Adittya Senevi (Commander) and
Jayapura Arya Kurukshetra warriors – Dambadeniya
Buwanekabahu the 1st; 1287 – 1298 Dambadeniya and Yapahuwa
The great king brought down over 95 Kaurava warriors from Kanchipra and settled them in the seaboard villages to protect the country from invaders.
(from the Janawamsa; Hugh Neville collection P10939/OR6066 British Museum)
Alakeshwera Yuwa Raja (Sub King) – Kotte; 1390
Warusa Vipula Sannada Perumal Mahalena
(He is considered the originator of the De Soyza families.)
Muthutanthri Nilame
(He is considered the originator of the Sri Chandrasekera family of Moratuwa)
Vijayabahu the 5th; 1332 – 1344 Kotte
Kaurava Adittya Arasa Nila Yitta Elenaga
(A sword granted by the King is found to date in the Colombo Museum – See The Karava Swords)
Parakramabahu the 6th; 1415 – 1467 Kotte
Kurukula Vatchcha Nattu Devarir (Kotchchirata Senevi)
(He is said to be the ancestors of Sir James Peiris)
Kaurava Adittya Arasa Nila Yitta Mahanaga
(See The Karava Swords)
Dharma Parakramabahu the 9th; 1509 – 1529 Kotte
Kurukulasooriya Warnamana Mudali
Manukulasuriya Devarir
Vijayabahu the 6th; 1509 – 1534 Kotte
Mahapatabenda of Jaffna or Varnakulasuriya Grama Thalavar Pattan Kattiar (Rajavaliya)
(Text from the Rajavaliya indicates that he harbored and protected the little Buwanekabahu, Mayadunne and Raigam Bandara (sons of King Vijayabahu) during a time of intrigue in the Kotte Kingdom. Years later he sent them by his own vessel to Boralessa in Negombo, and onwards to Kotte, to take their rightful place in the palace.)
Buwanekabahu the 7th; 1534 – 1551 Kotte
Kurukula Nattu Bandara Swamy (2nd); 1543
(the families of Sir Phillip Rodrigo is claimed to be descendent of him.)
Don John Dharmapala Periya Bandara; 1551 – 1563 Kotte
Rankothdivela Adittya Bandara (Suriya Bandara) of Mahawatta, Moratuwa.
Don Fernando Samarakoon Rala ( Chief Adigar – Colombo, Matara and Goa )
(Received the ‘Order of Christ’ and a village with an annual income of 500 Dos as accomadesan from the Portuguese. He was the first to receive a high order from any colonial power. Don Manuel Mudaliyar and Don Hendrick were his brother-in-laws. One of his brothers was baptized as Don Diego. He was also involved in building the Portuguese fort of Galle.)
Seimon Cooray Rala or Simon Corea, Patangatim, Chilaw.
Thakura Arthadeva Adittya Pedro de Silva – Hanwella & Moratuwa.
(See reference in the book 20th Century Impressions)
Thakura Arthadeva Adittya Manuel de Silva – Hanwella & Moratuwa.
Wimala Dharmasuriya 1st; 1592 – 1604 Kandy
Varnakula Adittya Arasa Nila Yitta Don Manuel Dias Andrady Wijeratna (Maha Adigar)
Antonia Baratto of Madampe – Matara
King Senarat; 1604 – 1634 Kandy
Pattinige Nikapitiye Bandara
Antonio Baratto of Madampe (‘Uve Rala’ or Prince of Uva)
Don Cosmo Mudali
Pedro Baratto of Madampe; Admiral in the Kings Navy
(Ref Baldaeus ‘A description of Ceylon’)
Rajasinghe the 2nd; 1634 – 1684 Kandy
Varnakulasuriya Vellakke Mudaliyar – Matale Maha Disapathy
Amarapathy Kurukulasuriya Mudaliyar – Negombo Main Street.
Varnakulasuriya Arasa Mettasinghe Arashan Nilayitta – Adigar, Kings Palace, Kandy.
Wettasinghe Adhi-arashan Bharatha Kulasuriya Maha Mudliyar and Adigar, Kings Palace, Kandy.
Amarapathy Kurukulasuriya Don Joan da Costa (Ambanwela Rala)
Informant/Spy of King Rajasinghe – Kings Palace, Kandy.
Amaral Mudaliyar – Main Street, Negombo.
Kalinguhamy Mudaliyar – Lakshapathiya, Moratuwa.
Varnakulasuriya Mudaliyar – Main Street, Negombo.
Balasuriya Mudaliyar – Main Street, Negombo.
Varnakulasuriya Ele Naga
(Appointed Muhandiram of the Kalutara Totamune by King Rajasinghe, 1639)
Kurukula Greats of the Kotte Kingdom:
Andara Vas, Patagatim
Neeramulle Palihawadana Perumal, Arachchi
Jayasindu Palihawadana Rala Tun Korale, Wahakotte
Pattan Peruma, Arachchi
Thevara Tantri Aditya Jayasekera, Tangalle
Kurukula Nanwarna Kulasuriya, Basnayake Nilame
Weerabala Jayasuriya Arthadeva Guneratna, Patangatim
Varnakulasuriya Adappa Unnehe, Dambadeniya
Maha Marakkala Artha Deva Jayasuriya, Patangatim
Chandiram Udayar Tamankaduwa Varnakulasuriya, Baticaloa
Karava Vanniars
Navaratna Singha Raja
Suriya Vanni Unnehe
Madampe Aiyan Pulle
Arasa nila Ittan Kurukulasuriya, Mudaliyar
Varnakulasuriya Vanniar, Mudaliyar
Kurukula Mudaliyars of Jaffna
Don S. D. R. Kurukula Nattu Devan, Adigar Manthotam
J. C. Tissa Weerasingham, Constitutional Minister
Kurukulasooriya Agostinu, Mudaliyar
Kurukulasingha Mudaliyar
Buvimanasinghe Pattankatti, Mudaliyar
Edirimanasinghe, Patangatim Mudiyanse
Ediriweerasinghe Mudaliyar
Varnakulasuriya Mudaliyar
Sathurukulasinghe Patangatim Mudiyanse
Ksastriya Kulasinghe Patangatim Mudiyanse
.
(Ceylon Morning Leader, 15.08.1932)
(1) The term Sub King has been used to denote the Singhalese term ‘Yuwa Raja’, the name given to a regional King, appointed by the Sovereign.
