Ancient history of Sri Lanka The Ancient history of Sri Lanka begins with the gradual onset of historical records in the final centuries BC , ending the prehistoric period . According to the Mahavamsa , the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka are the Yakshas and northern Naga tribes . Sinhalese history traditionally starts in 543 B . C . at the arrival of Prince Vijaya , a semi - legendary king who was banished from the Indian subcontinent with his 700 followers , and is recorded in the Mahavamsa chronicle . . Archeological evidence places Tamils , including a clan name — vela , a name related to velir from ancient Tamil country , in Sri Lanka at around 2nd century B . C . E . Indigenous Sri Lankans . According to folklore , the Naga people were one of the groups of original inhabitants of Lanka . They were said to have ruled Nagadeepa , or Jaffna Peninsula and Kelaniya . Naga people were snake - worshipers , and may have been a race of the Dravidians . The word Naga was sometimes written in early inscriptions as Nāya , as in Nāganika - this occurs in the Nanaghat inscription of 150 BCE . Until the third century BCE they appear as a distinct group in the early Sri Lankan chronices as well as the early Tamil literary works . In the third century BCE they started to assimilate to Tamil language and culture , and lost their separate identity . Pali Chronicles . The Pali chronicles , the Dipavamsa , Mahavamsa , Thupavamsa and the Culavamsa as well as a large collection of stone inscriptions , the Indian Epigraphical records , the Burmese versions of the chronicles etc . , provide an exceptional record for the history of Sri Lanka from about the 6th century B . C . The Mahavamsa , written around 400 AD by the monk Nagasena , using the Deepavamsa , the Attakatha and other written sources available to him , correlates well with Indian histories of the period . Emperor Asoka ' s reign is recorded in the Mahavamsa . The Mahavamsa account of the period prior to Asoka ' s coronation , ( 218 years after the Buddha ' s death ) seems to be part legend . The account of the Mahavamsa , a Pali text written largely from the Sinhalese perspective , has mythological beginnings but becomes historical from the 3rd century BC , with the arrival of Buddhism under Devanampiya Tissa of Sri Lanka . Epigraphic sources also appear with the presence of Buddhism , from about the 3rd century BC . The earliest historiographic litearature , such as the Mahavamsa , dates to the 6th century AD . The entire ancient period of history written in the Mahavamsa , is dominated by the Anuradhapura Kingdom . The medieval period in Sri Lanka is taken to begin with the fall of the Anuradhapura Kingdom in AD 1017 . Arrival of Sinhalese according to Mahavamsa Tradition . Mahavamsa attests that the ancestor s of the Sinhalese came from Sihapura ( " Sinhapura " ) located in Lala Rattha ( = " Lata Rashtra " ) . Prince Sihabahu had left his maternal grand father ' s kingdom in " Vanga " and founded a Sihapura in Lata Rashtra . He married Sihasivali and there were born Vijaya and Sumitta and thirty more sons to her . With time , Sihabahu consecrated Vijaya as prince - regent , but due to some misdemeanor of prince Vijaya , the king had to banish him and his 700 followers from Sinhapura . Story says that the king had caused their heads to be shaved ( " aradh - mundak " ) before putting them on a ship and driving them away into the sea . The exiles sailed past Bharukachcha and Soparaka and finally landed at Tambapanni ( Ceylon ) near " Puttalam " . on the day of " Parinibhana " ( decease ) of the Buddha ( 542 BCE or 486 BCE ) . The exiles permanently settled on the island , married local wives and established their kingdom which , in succeeding generations , assumed the name as Sinhala , " said to have been named after Sinhapura " , the ancestral city of the exiles . Sri Lankan written history begins with the arrival of Vijaya and his 700 followers . Vijaya is a semi - legendary figure . He is the first recorded king of Sri Lanka but is also a figure in medieval Sri Lankan Tamil literature . His reign is traditionally dated to 543 BC - 505 BC . The primary source for his life - story is the Mahavamsa . It is inevitably difficult , given the dearth of sources , to separate fact from legend in Vijaya ' s life , and as H . W . Codrington puts it , ' It is possible and even probable that Vijaya ( ` The Conqueror ' ) himself is a composite character combining in his person . . . two conquests ' of ancient Sri Lanka . Vijaya is a Kalinga ( ancient Orissa ) prince , the eldest son of King Sinhabahu ( " Man with Lion arms " ) and his sister Queen Sinhasivali . Both these Sinhala leaders were born of a mythical union between a lion and a human princess . The Mahavamsa states that Vijaya landed on the same day as the death of the Buddha ( See Geiger ' s preface to Mahavamsa ) . The story of Vijaya and Kuveni ( the local reigning queen ) is reminiscent of Greek legend , and may have a common source in ancient Proto - Indo - European folk tales . The authorities such as Wilhelm Geiger , H . W . Codrington , Chatterji , Mendis , A . L . Bhasham , S . Parnavitana , K . M . De Silva , J . L . Kamboj etc . assert that the early settlers of Sri Lanka came from the north - west part of India , while others like Muller , Majumdar , Siddhartha , Sabidullah etc . hold that north - eastern India was the home of the earliest colonists . The " Encyclopædia Britannica " asserts on Vijaya ' s arrival in Sri Lanka as follows : " " Their landing in Sri Lanka at Tambapanni , near Puttalam , would indicate their arrival from western India . Some early tribal names occurring in Sri Lanka also suggest connections with north - western India and the Indus region . While considerable evidence points to western India as the home of the first immigrants , it seems probable that a subsequent wave arrived from the east around Bengal and Orissa " " . Place - names . According to the Mahavamsa , Vijaya landed on Sri Lanka near Mahathitha ( Manthota or Mannar ) , and named the Island " Thambaparni " ( ' copper - colored palms ) . This name is attested in Ptolemy ' s map of the ancient world . Tamirabharani is the old name for the second longest river in Sri Lanka ( known as Malwatu Oya in Sinhala and Aruvi Aru in Tamil ) . This river was a main supply route connecting the capital , Anuradhapura to Mahathitha ( Mannar ) . The waterway was used by Greek and by Chinese ships travelling the southern Silk Route . Mahathitha was an ancient port linking Sri Lanka to India and the Persian gulf . The present day Sihalese ( and many modern Tamils ) are a mixture of the indegenous people and of other peoples who came to the island from various parts of India . The Sinhalese recognize the Vijayan Indo - Aryan culture and Buddhism ( already in existence prior to the arrival of Vijaya ) , as distinct from other groups in neighbouring south India . History of Tamils in Sri Lanka . Potsherds with early Tamil writing from the 2nd century BCE have been found from the north in Poonakari , Jaffna to the south in Tissamaharama . They bore several inscriptions , including a clan name — vela , a name related to velir from ancient Tamil country . Epigraphic evidence shows people identifying themselves as Damelas or Damedas ( the Indo - Aryan Prakrit word for Tamil people ) in Anuradhapura , the capital city of Rajarata the middle kingdom , and other areas of Sri Lanka as early as the 2nd century BCE . Excavations in the area of Tissamaharama in southern Sri Lanka have unearthed locally issued coins , produced between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE , some of which carry local Tamil personal names written in early Tamil characters , which suggest that Tamils were present and actively involved in trade along the southern coast of Sri Lanka by the late classical period . Other ancient inscriptions from the period reference a Tamil merchant , the Tamil householder residing in Ilubharata and a Tamil sailor named Karava . Two of the five ancient inscriptions referring to the Damedas ( Tamils ) are in Periya Pullyakulam in the Vavuniya District , one is in Seruvavila district in Trincomalee District , one is in Kuduvil in Amparai District and one is in Anuradhapura . Mention is made in literary sources of Tamil rulers bringing horses to the island in water craft in the second century BCE , most likely arriving at Kudiramalai . Historical records establish that Tamil kingdoms in modern India were closely involved in the island ' s affairs from about the 2nd century BCE . Kudiramalai , Kandarodai and Vallipuram served as great northern Tamil capitals and emporiums of trade with Tamil kingdoms and the Romans from the 6th – 2nd centuries BCE . The archaeological discoveries in these towns and the " Manimekhalai " , a historical poem , detail how Nāka - Tivu of Nāka - Nadu on the Jaffna Peninsula was a lucrative international market for pearl and counch trading for the Tamil fishermen of that time period . Anuradhapura Kingdom . Anuradhapura is heralded as an ancient cosmopolitan citadel with diverse populations . Successions . Pandukabhaya ( 437 BC – 367 BC ) King of Upatissa Nuwara and the first monarch of the Anuradhapura Kingdom and 6th over all of the island of Sri Lanka since the arrival of the Vijaya , he reigned from 437 BC to 367 BC . According to many historians and philosophers , he is the first truly Sri Lankan king since the Vijayan invasion , and also the king who ended the conflict between the Sinha clan and local community , reorganizing the populace . Elara ( 205 - 161 BC ) , a Tamil King with Chola origins , who ruled " Pihiti Rata " , i . e . , Sri Lanka north of the mahaweli , after killing King Asela . During Elara ' s time , Kelani Tissa was a sub - king of Maya Rata ( south - west ) and Kavan Tissa was a regional sub - king of Ruhuna ( south - east ) . Kavan Tissa built Tissa Maha Vihara , Dighavapi Tank and many shrines in Seruvila . Dutugemunu ( 161 - 137 BC ) – Eldest son of King Kavan Tissa , who was a young man 25 years of age , defeated the South Indian Tamil Invader Elara ( over 64 years of age ) in single combat , described in the Mahavamsa . Dutugemunu is depicted as a Sinhala " Asoka " . The Ruwanwelisaya , built by this king is a dagaba of pyramid - like proportions . It was an engineering marvel . Pulahatta ( or Pulahatha ) deposed by Bahiya , was deposed by Panaya Mara , deposed by Pilaya Mara , murdered by Dathiya 88 BC – deposed by Valagambahu , ending Tamil rule . Valagambahu I ( 89 - 77 ) BC – restored the Dutugamunu dynasty . The Mahavihara Theravada - Abhayagiri ( pro - Mahayana ) doctrinal disputes arose at this time . The Tripitaka was written in Pali at Aluvihara , Matale . Chora Naga ( Mahanaga ) ( 63 - 51 ) BC ; poisoned by his consort Anula . Queen Anula ( 48 - 44 BC ) – Widow of Chora Naga and Kuda Tissa , was the first Queen of Lanka . She had many lovers who were poisoned by her . She was finally killed by : Kuttakanna Tissa . Vasabha ( 67 - 111 AD ) – Vallipuram gold plate ; he fortified Anuradhapura and built eleven tanks ; many edicts . Gajabahu I ( 114 - 136 ) – invaded the Chola kingdom and brought back captives . He recovered the tooth relic of the Buddha . Mahasena ( 274 - 301 ) – The Theravada ( Maha Vihara ) was persecuted and Mahayana surfaced . Later the King returned to the Maha Vihara . Pandu ( 429 ) - first of seven Pandiyan rulers , ending with Pithya , 455 ; Dhatusena ( 459 - 477 ) , his uncle , Mahanama wrote the Mahavamsa , he built " Kalaweva " . His son Kashyapa ( 477 - 495 ) , built the famous sigiriya rock palace . Some 700 rock graffiti give a glimpse of ancient Sinhala . Arrival of Buddhism and the Sacred Tooth Relic . Devanampiya Tissa ( 250 - 210 BC ) , a Sinhalese King of the Mauriya clan . His links with Emperor Asoka led to the introduction of Buddhism by Mahinda ( son of Asoka ) in 247 BC . Sangamitta , ( sister of Mahinda ) brought a Bodhi sapling via Jambukola ( Sambiliturei ) . There is no evidence in the history of King Ashoka about his having had a son by the name of Mahinda ( or by any other name ) or a daughter by the name of Sangamitta ( or by any other name ) . This king ' s reign was crucial to Theravada Buddhism , and for Sri Lanka . Lambakanna . Manavamma ( 684 - 718 ) – seized the throne with Pallava help . Manavamma introduced Pallava patronage for three centuries . By the 9th century , with the Pandyan ascendancy in southern India , Anuradhapura was sacked . However , the Sinhalese invaded Pandya using a rival prince , and Madurai itself was sacked . Mahinda V ( 982 - 1029 ) – was the last Sinhala monarch of Anuradhapura . He fled to Ruhuna , where , in 1017 , the Chola took him to prison and he died in India . Demise . In 993 , the Chola Emperor Rajaraja I invaded Sri Lanka , forcing the then Sri Lankan ruler Mahinda V to flee to the southern part of the country . The Mahavamsa describes the rule of Mahinda V as weak , and the country was suffering from poverty by this time . It further mentions that his army rose against him due to lack of wages . Taking advantage of this situation , Rajendra I son of Rajaraja I , launched a large invasion in 1017 . Mahinda V was captured and taken to India , and the Cholas sacked the city of Anuradhapura . They moved the capital to Polonnaruwa and subsequent Sri Lankan rulers who came into power after the Chola reign continued to use Polonnaruwa as the capital , thus ending the Anuradhapura Kingdom . Technology . The irrigation works in ancient Sri Lanka dated from about 300 BC during the reign of King Pandukabhaya and under continuous development for the next thousand years , were one of the most complex irrigation system s of the ancient world . In addition to underground canals , the Sinhalese were the first to build completely artificial reservoirs and dam to store water . The system was extensively restored and further extended during the reign of King Parākramabāhu . Kaboja or Kambojas . " " Several early Brahmi inscriptions in Ceylon refer to a community of people called Kambojas who then lived in various parts of Sri Lanka . An early Pali text refers to a Kambojagama in Rohana " " . The Kaboja ( also Kamboja or Kambodin ) are mentioned in eight Brahmi texts . The Dameda are referenced in five texts . The Mileka are mentioned twice . The Muridi , Meraya and Jhavaka are mentioned only once . The Kambojas living in Rohana are mentioned in the ( ? th ) chapter of the Sihalavatthu , a Pali text from about 300 AD . An Elder named Maleyya was residing in " Kamboja - gama " , in the province ( Janapada ) of Rohana on the Island of Tambapanni ( Sri Lanka ) , according to chapter 3 , " Metteyya - vatthu " , of the Sihalavatthu . Further , the Mahavamsa asserts the Yonas or Yavana s ( Greeks ) , neighbors to the Kambojas in the north - west , also had a settlement in " Pandukabhaya " in Anuradhapura . Eight epigraphic and one literary sources attest that the Kambojas had settled in various parts of Ceylon including Hambantoa district and Aparai districts of Rohana province , in Kurunagala district Southwest of Anuradhapura , in Polonnaruva district in eastern Ceylon as well as in Anuradhapura city . A Kambojagama is attested in the Southeast in Rohana province . Ancient inscriptions reveal that the Kambojas were actively involved in trade , referencing one " Grand Trade Guild of the Kambojas " ( " Kabojhiya - mahapugiyana " ) in Aparai district in Rohana and one " Sangha of the Kambojas " ( " Gota - Kabojhi ( ya ] na " ) in Kurunagala district in Southwest Anuradhapura . Epigraphers date these inscriptions to at least 200 BC , or even earlier . The Indo - Aryan speakers of Sri Lanka may be descended from these north - western Kambojas Another portion of this Aryan population originated among the Sakas and the Yavana s . These Kambojas inhabited a region bordering the upper Indus in a country near Sind , from whence they , and the Yavanas , finally reached Ceylon in pre - Christian times . Tamils ( Demada ) in the Mahavamsa . The Dameda are the second most mentioned ethnic group in the epigraphy of Ceylon , with mention in five cave inscriptions . " Dameda " in these inscriptions stands for Damela ( = Tamil ) According to another view , Dameda is a Sanskrit equivalent of Dravida . These inscriptions reference the Tamil merchant ( Vishaka ) , the Tamil householder Samana ( residing ) in Ilubharata and a Tamil navika ( or sailor ) Karava . These Tamil inscriptions are further corroborated by a reference in the Mahavamsa which contains the expression " Damilas Assandviks " i . e . " those ( Tamils ) who brought horses in water - craft " . Early Buddhist literature from north India refers to the Uttarapatha ( comprising the Kambojas , Kashmiras , and Gandharas ) as horse traders attesting that horses were brought for sale to various parts of the subcontinent . By early mediaeval times , the Kambojas had adopted Islam and were still trading all along the west - coast of India from the Persian Gulf to Ceylon and probably further - east . Kamboja traders from the north - west and Tamil merchants from southern India had probably been involved in trade and settlement in Sri Lanka . Two of the five ancient inscriptions referring to the Damedas ( Tamils ) are in Periya Pullyakulam in the Vayuniya District , one is in Seruvavila district in Trincomalee district , one is in Kuduvil in Amprai district and one in the ancient city of Anuradhapura . Mileka , Muridi , Merya and Jhavaka . Other ethnic terms like Mileka , Muridi , Meraya and Jhavaka are also mentioned in the ancient texts . Milaka , occurring twice in the sources , may be " Mlechcha " , an aboriginal population of Vedda people . Muridi may be " Murunda " ( Saka Murunda ) Merya may be " Maurya " . Jhavaka identity is not clear . Each of the last three of these terms occur only once in the record .