Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c6.58

c6.58

Rājadhi Rāja Simha succeeded his brother in 1780, and reigned for eighteen years; he carried on the traditions of the preceding reign. He rebuilt the Pohoya-gē at Malvatte, and ‘maintained all that his brother had done “for the advancement of the country and the religion thereof. He was also skilled in many languages, such as Pali, Sanskrit and the like, and given to charity, and was in form like unto the god of love. And as he was skilled in the science of words, he composed the Asadisa Jātaka in Sinhalese poetry and published it.” He was little troubled by wars or rebellions; but certain treasures of the Mahā Dēvāle are said to have been dedicated by him after a victory at Gurubēbilē in which he was engaged before he came to the throne. In A.D. 1795 Rājadhi Rāja Simha was at war with the Dutch and solicited English aid; the latter offered little resistance and by the next year ceded all places in their possession to the British.