War in Ancient India c10.97

c10.97

The Pāṇḍyan kings had close relations with Ceylon. Śrī Māra's expedition to Ceylon has been referred to earlier. In the wars of Rājasimha with Parāntaka he was helped by the Ceylonese king. When there was a dispute between Parākrama Pāṇḍya and Kulaśekhara, regarding the succession to the Pāṇḍyan throne the Ceylonese ruler sent, on request from the former, a naval brigade under Laṅkāpura Daṇḍanāyaka, who after defeating Kulaśekhara erected a pillar of victory. Incidents like these show that the kings of the south as well as the ruler of Ceylon had each a well equipped fleet.