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     SRI WICKRAMA RAJASINGHE

Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe is the last king of Sri Lanka. As well he was the last king of "Nanayakkara " chain. Nayakkara was originated in South India mainly.  Since ancient times many kings brought South Indian queens to Sri Lanka for the purpose of marriage. By these marriages the bond between Sri Lanka and South India was tightened. Apart from that    new pedigree of Nayakkara was created in Sri Lanka. Nayakkara kings practiced Hinduism. 

King Rajasinghe was born in Madurai and died in 1832, Vellore, India. He was also called as "Kannasami"and became the king of Kandaudarata (Kandy) in age of 18. Prime Minister of Kandyan court was called as Adigar or Adikaram. Pilimathalawe Adigar was one of the powerful character of Kandyan court at that time. He put his all efforts to set up dynasty to "Kannasami" . But later on he wanted something else and he wanted British to rule the country. And he thought that he would be given more powers under British. By the time of   king Rajasinghe was ruling    Kandyan kingdom British was ruling the coastal area of the country. And they had an earnest desire to capture the Kandyan kingdom which was an independent portion by then. 

Ultimately the king discovered that Pilimathawale was playing a game. Pilimathawale was pardoned twice and  executed later. Then Ehalepola  was appointed to the place of Adigar. King was keen on his behavior and later came to know that the unrest occurred in Sabaragamuwa province was initiated by Ehelepola. The king could not grasp Ehelepola . According to the history king took this revenge from from Ehalepola family, including kumarihami the wife of Adigar and the three children. 


This incident  directly affect to the dynasty of king Rajasinghe.  

Finally British captured Kandyan kingdom without resistance and reached the city on 02nd March 1815, the proud kingdom was captured by the British rulers under a written Treaty called Kandyan Convention which consisted with 12 Articles. 

The king did many things to beautify the town, Kandy. The Kandy lake close to the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddah and the Octagon is said to be the creations of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. The Octogon was built under the instruction of Devendra Mulachari who was the royal architect of the Kandyan court. 

According to many sources the cruel behavior of the king was badly affected to the failure of  king Rajasinghe's dynasty.  



 

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