Kaurava greats of Yesteryear

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.