113992242-Dravidian-Settlements-in-Ceylon-and-the-Beginnings-of-the-Kingdom-of-Jaffna-By-Karthigesu-Indrapala-Complete-Phd-Thesis-University-of-London-1965

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about by these event4ay have led the £ryacakravartine to seek
their fortunes in Ceylon. The eall and probably weak kingdom
in northern Ceylon would have been a tempting target for their
designs. This is, however, another possibility. In the present
state of our knowledge we cannot be certain about the "sjer
in which the ryacakravartins came to occupy the throne of Jaffna.
Prom the account of Ibu Batuta, we find that the
4ryacaavartina were firmly established on the throne of northern
Ceylon by l3kk and were in contmnd of the sea around, which was
infested with their piratica]. boats Their rule in the island
must, therefore, have begun some time before l3kk. In the absence
of any evidence regarding the date of the accession of the
first Iryacakravartin ruler, we can place this only within
rough Itinite. It certainly took place before l3kk, probably in
the first quarter of the fourteenth century. possibly in the
last quarter of the thirteenth.
The independent ki-gdom of northern Ceylon that
emerged in the thirteenth century continued to be in existence
till 1620, when the laat of the Tamil rulers was beheaded by the
Portuguese and the k4ngdom became part of the Portuguese possessions
in the island This medieval kingdom has been commonly known
1. The Rehia of Ibn Batuta, . cit., pp. 217-22k.
2. T.de Queyroz, . cit., pp. 628 ft, 691.