The Rise of the Kandyan–Nayak Dynasty: My Reflections on a Turning Point in Sri Lankan History
By Nimesha Thiwankara Senevipala The period between 1739 and 1815 is one of the most fascinating and controversial chapters in Sri Lankan history. This was the era of the Kandyan–Nayak Dynasty , when the throne of Kandy passed from the Sinhalese royal line to rulers of Nayak descent. I personally see this transition not as a mere accident of succession but as a strategic and well-calculated political move , one that reflected the ambitions of the Nayak chieftains who were already influential in the Kandyan court. It also intersected with the religious mission of Weliwita Saranankara Thera , who — in my opinion — played a key but largely unconscious role in making this transformation possible. The Decision to Bypass the Local Heir When King Vira Narendra Sinha passed away in 1739, there was indeed a male heir — his own brother, born to the same father but of local maternal lineage. He was considered unsuitable for the throne, and the Kandyan chiefs and Buddhist clergy decided ins...