Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1

Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 123
Portuguese to stay in power. Mayadunne was constantly trying to oust Buwanekabahu and capture the
kingdom of Kotte.
Gold Statue of Prince Dharmapala Was Sent to Portugal:
Prince Dharmapala was the son of King Buwanekabahu’s daughter and Vidiya Bandara. King
Buwanekabahu made a gold statue of the Prince and sent to the King of Portugal. King of Portugal
and King Buwanekabahu came to an alliance where Portuguese would provide protection in return of
cinnamon and other spices.
Meeting Between King Buwanekabahu and St. Francis Xavier:
When famous St. Francis Xavier came to Lanka, he met King Buwanekabahu. King Buwanekabahu
answered as thus to the Saint’s request to convert.
“I understand father that your religion is the only true one. All others have so much errors
and is clear to anyone. I know fully well that continuing the path that I follow I can end only
in hell. It is true that my father and my ancestors died pagans. But I see that the religion of
Buddum contains errors as intolerable as they are incompatible with reason.
I have come to understand that the penitence of the Christians is the true remedy for sins.
Though I know the truth Christ, on account of the place which I hold, I am unable to receive
Baptism at once, for the least suspicion that they should have of me in this regard would be
enough to ruin the whole of my realm. I beg you to patronize cause in front of the Governor
of India, that he may come to my assistance more readily and give me 100 soldiers to
protect my person, lest my adversaries prevail against me as well as against the prospects of
the total conversion of my lieges”.
Though the Saint understood and knew well the principal object which the King had in view,
he told him very kindly that he was going to Goa whence he hope to return with
reinforcements”.
Ref: Queyroz – (1617 –1680 AD) - Edited for brevity
King Don Juan Dharmapala: (Puppet King of Kotte)
After the death of King Buwanekabahu, Portuguese raised Don Juan Dharmapala to the throne.
Mayadunne’s Claim to Kotte kingdom:
Don Juan Dharmapala was a Catholic, since he converted to Catholicism. On the other hand, King
Buwanekabahu never converted or changed his name. A Portuguese named Alfonso Rasquinho, who
was working for Mayadunne, informed him that according to the law of Portugal, only a Catholic
could be the King of Portugal.
Mayadunne was glad to hear that theory. He made a claim to the kingdom of Kotte. Based on this
logic, only a Buddhist can be the King of Kotte and Don Juan Dharmapala’s claim to the kingdom
should be nullified.