No. 63. — ^1910.] AGE OF SRI PARAKRAMA BAHU VI. 
27 
new title, and as you could not rest and were not content with 
what you had, to give you somewhat more rest."i The conquest 
of Jaffna, though lightly undertaken, was not easily achieved. 
The power which scarce half a century ago had owned the 
allegiance of the greater portion of the Island, and was still 
mistress of the seas, would not yield her independence without 
a struggle. Arya Chakkravarti's outposts offered a. stubborn 
resistance to the invader, and the Sinhalese general, after 
having raided several villages belonging to the kingdom of 
Jaffna and taken many prisoners of war, had to retire without 
being able to penetrate to the northern capital. ^ The presen- 
tation of the Tamil captives from Jaffna at court concealed 
from the people the failure of the main object of the expedition, 
and gave to the war in the popular imagination the character 
of another triumph of the Sinhalese arms. However, Sri 
Parakrama Bahu was not content with the results of the 
campaign. Soon his army was again in motion under the 
same general to conquer the north. ^ Sapumal Kumara 
captured the chain of border fortresses which had been erected 
by the king of Jaffna as a security against any attack on the 
capital.* When intelligence reached him that the Sinhalese 
commander had burst his defences and was marching on the 
city, he despatched three of his most distinguished chieftains 
to oppose his progress. First went forth Kontakara Demaiis, 
then advanced Panigavarum, who was followed by Vaiamuni- 
varussa.^ In a short space, they were one after another all 
cut down by Sapumal Kumaraya. The anxious monarch, at 
length, it is stated, despatched a brave chieftain called 
Varakara,^ who had taken an oath to hew the Sinhalese leader 
in pieces, to resist the enemy's advance. As he forced his 
passage through the enemy's ranks Varakara was stabbed by 
the Sinhalese ere he made his way to Sapumal Kumaraya. 
Mounted on a black charger Sapumal Kumaraya entered Jaffna 
1 Valentyn. ^ Rdjdvaliya, pp. 68, 69. 
^ The route taken by Sapumal Kumaraya's army may be followed 
in the Kovul Sandesa. The old road lay from Kotte through Kelaniya, 
Wattala, Negombo, Chilaw, Mannar, Chavakacheheri (Javaka Kotte). 
* Rdjdvaliya, loc. cit. 
5 Conta Cara Demaiis, Panigevorum, Valamunivorussa, Varacara— 
Valentyn. 
