294 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIII. 
date appointed for Alakeswara's coronation. Meanwhile a 
conspiracy was formed, led by the Maha Sarni of Rayigama, 
to rid the country of the usurper and to restore the old line. 
Shortly before the coronation the Ministers and Chiefs who 
were dissatisfied with the rule of the Dictator met on the 
summons of Widagama and decided to bring the prince, 
now a youth of sixteen, from his concealment and secretly 
introduce him to the people. 
On the 7th day of the bright fortnight of the month 
Wesak (April-May), 1415, on the raised stone platform 
facing the palace in his own city of Jayawardhana Kotte, 
overlooking the beautiful tank he had built, the old warrior 
clad in all the insignia of royalty sat to receive the crown 
for which he had his whole life struggled. The square was 
filled with nobles, troops, and people. As Alakeswara 
turned his face for the auspicious rite, the State sword 
which Widagama Sami held in his hand to gird the new 
King was handed to the young prince, and the head of 
Alakeswara rolled into the tank below. The body of the 
aged hero made way for the son of Wijaya Bahu, and the 
lad of sixteen was hailed King as Sri Parakrama Bahu 
VI.^^ 
Thus perished Alakeswara, like a greater figure in history, 
a victim to his own ambition. The manner of his death 
was a fitting close to a stormy career. With him passed away 
the age of Tamil conquest and oppression. He left the 
kingdom strong and united, to revive in a measure the 
forgotten glories of Anuradhapura and Pollonaruwa. He 
rendered it possible for his successor to carry his arms 
into the country of Ariya Chakkrawarti, and in fact to be 
crowned King of a United Lanka. Once again under Sri 
Parakrama Bahu VI. Sinhalese armies marched from the 
o 
city of Alakeswara to conquer powerful Tamil kingdoms 
of the Dekkhan, as they had done in the days of the Great 
* Rajdvaliya^ p. 68. Ceylon Literary Register Supplement (Dec. 1900), 
p. 41. 
