No. 63. — 1910.] AGE OF SRI PARAKRAMA BAHU VI. 
21 
While still a mere youth his grandsire, jealous of preserving 
the crown in his family, swore him in as heir to the throne and 
prince-regent (yuva-raja). This action was prompted by a 
danger which the king's own generosity had called into being. 
One Panikkan/ an adventurer of royal race from the neigh- 
bouring coast of Malabar , found an asylum and a Sinhalese 
bride at the court of Kotte. He had by her two sons, Cham- 
paka Perumal, called by the Sinhalese Sapumal Xumaraya , and 
Jayavira, known to the people as Ambulugala Kuda Kuma- 
raya,2 whom Sri Parakrama Bahu adopted as his sons according 
to the ancient custom of instituting, probably apprehending, 
the failure of male issue. Some time after that the empress 
gave birth to a daughter, the princess Ulakuda Devi, mother 
of Jayavira. 
Ultimately , the rivalry between his warlike and ambitious 
foster sons and his grandson created an element of civil strife 
in the Sta,te, and proved the means of finally extinguishing 
Parakrama's own line on the throne. Fears for the future 
weKare of the kingdom did not alone occupy the king's 
attention. Soon after (circa 1451-1452), a graver peril requir- 
ing immediate attention confronted the monarch. Perhaps 
encouraged by the success of previous invaders, the king of 
Canara menaced the realm. De Couto thus refers to the event : 
" Not long^ afterwards the emperor was very unexpectedly 
attacked by a large army that had been sent by the king of 
Canara to Ceylon with a numerous fleet, but the prince having 
speedily gathered together some troops defeated that mighty 
army, which act gave him a very formidable name throughout 
the whole East, and caused him to be greatly beloved by 
his people." ^ xiccording to the Kovul Sandesa the fort of 
A De Couto, Journ., R.A.S (C.B.), vol. XX., p. 69. 
2 Sri Ku(^a Kumaraya, younger prince, called Ambulugala from the 
capital of his principality. His name was Jayavira, which was also the 
name of the king's grandson, the son of Ulakudaya Devi. 
3 It would appear from references in contemporary literature that 
Parakrama Bahu carried the war into the enemy's territory, but this 
cannot clearly be ascertained, because of the imdoubted invasion of 
India soon after. Perhaps the succeeding events formed part of the 
same campaign, and originated in the attempt of the king of Canara to 
conquer Ceylon. 
