Brave Commander Lankapura

By Halaliye Karunathilake
Edited and translated by Niluka De Silva
Illustrated by Saman Kalubowila

~This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa,’ the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history~

1. King Parakramabahu announced his decision to the commanders. In one voice, all the commanders agreed to this decision. The king was very happy. He wanted the commanders to make things known to their troops. He ordered that everything needed for the foreign trip should be organised. Ship builders were summoned. They were asked to build a number of very large ships. The Commander-in-Chief selected for this task was Commander Lankapura.

2. This commander assembled all the troops that were selected to 'Mahathirtha.' They were given a thorough military training. When things were happening at a fast pace over here, events took a different turn in India. Prince Kulasekera became powerful with Chola help. He conquered the city of Madura. He took Parakrama Pandya, his wife and children as prisoners and eventually they were killed.

3. Sri Lanka received this news. King Parakramabahu was very sad. Now arose a question as to whether an army should be sent. The king was concerned about this matter. He decided to attack Prince Kulasekera and somehow defeat him. So he summoned Commander Lankapura and told him not to give up hopes of the planned invasion.

4. He was asked to continue with his preparations to see that Kulasekera is pushed out of power. He added that they should try to hand over the Pandya throne to an heir of the deceased king. The commander accepted these orders. He expedited the work of training soldiers. In a few days, when everything was ready, he went across the sea, along with his troops.

5. The forces of Commander Lankapura reached the coast of South India, within 24 hours. The armies of Prince Kulasekera, who got to know this, frightened all security and stopped them from coming ashore. Commander Lankapura, then made use of a strategy. He got the soldiers to get into small boats and made them sail in another direction and land at Dhanuskodi, in the coast of Pandya
territory.

6. From the place they landed, fighting started. The fighting was quite severe but our soldiers did not retreat. Commander Lankapura marched his soldiers upto Rameshwaram and camped there. The following day, they marched as far as Kundukaal in the Strait of Pamban. In these battles the Pandya cavalry performed very well. Yet they were unable to defeat the Sinhala forces. The Sinhala soldiers displayed their skill marvellously.

7. Commander Lankapura succeeded in erecting a fortress in Kundukaal. This he named as Parakramapura, going by the name of the Sinhala King, Parakramabahu. A stone wall was erected around this fortress. He left a passage open to the sea and dug trenches. Fighting went on unabated and Commander Lankapura was able to face everything bravely.

8. When men were captured in battle, they were sent to Sri Lanka as prisoners. King Parakramabahu used these men to help in the reconstruction work of the Ruwanveli Chetiya. This was made necessary because the Cholas who came earlier had ruined a number of shrines. Observing the way things were working in Sri Lanka, Commander Lankapura was bent on continuing fighting. In fact, he fought day and night.