1. The invasion of Sena and Guttika
    According to Rajavaliya, King Uttiya passed away in 257 B.C. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Mahasiva. Being a loyal follower of Thera Bhaddasala, Mahasiva has ruled the country according to the principles laid down in Buddhism. Due to the influence of Buddhism on society, the citizens were good natured and law-abiding. The society was non-violent. This made the king’s task very easy.
  2. Most of the people observed ‘Ata sil’ (eight precepts) on all four poya days. They gave up hunting, their main pastime so far. They showed love and kindness to animals. It is this peaceful way of life that made the king’s task easy. King Mahasiva gathered the support of the people and built the noble Vihara – Nagarangana and offered it to Thera Bhaddasala.
  3. King Mahasiva’s rule was also a short one. He ruled only for ten years. He was succeeded by Suratissa, his younger brother. He too was a righteous ruler, leading a pious life. In the southern quarter of the city he built another Nagarangana Vihara.
    King Suratissa was a devout Buddhist. He had the good fortune of listening to the advice of the Maha-Theras (Arhats). The ‘Mahavamsa’ records that he built 500 viharas in all, some of them even before he ascended the throne. As a prince, Suratissa had been known as Suvanna-pinda-tissa.
  4. King Suratissa built viharas all over the country. On top of mountains, at the foot of mountains, on either side of the river, the stupas were scattered. His subjects loved him for all the meritorious work done by him. Gonagala, Vanguttara, Lankarama, Makulaka and Girinelavahanaka are just some of the viharas he built.
  5. Many people started to misuse the kindness of the king. When the majority of the subjects were bent on the religious path, seeking emancipation, the security of the land was neglected. Though there were the soldiers of the royal army, nobody took his job seriously. There was no regular training of the army and the country was open to invasion by enemies. It was at this time , that Sena and Guttika, sons of a South Indian freighter, who brought horses to our country, invaded the land.
  6. They came with a huge army and defeated King Suratissa. These invaders were so cruel as to kill such a pious ruler like Suratissa. Thus ended the 10 year rule of King Suratissa. The first South Indian invaders, Sena and Guttika, ruled Lanka for a period of about 22 years. As the people of this country were leading religious lives, according to the new doctrine they had embraced, it was easy for an invader to rule the country comfortably.
  7. It is important to note, that everyone was not ready to accept things lying low. The ninth son of Mutasiva, Asela, by name, rose to the occasion. He meant to reawaken the Sinhala people. He increased the army and gave regular training.
  8. Once well-equipped for battle, he fought against Sena and Guttika. He was able to defeat the enemy and come to power in Anuradhapura. Thus the power of Sinhala kings was established once more in Anuradhapura. There is no doubt that the people were jubilant.

By Halaliye Karunathilaka Edited and translated by Kamala Silva llustrated by Saman Kalubowila


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