Dominicus Corea - King of Kotte and Sitawaka

King of Kotte and Sitawaka

Dominicus Corea was crowned King of Kotte in 1596. He was given the kingdoms of Kotte and Sitawaka by King Vimala Dharma of Kandy around 1596. John M.Senaveratna, in his book 'Great Sinhalese Men and Women of History' (Volume 3) wrote: 'He ( King Vimala Dharma ) according him ( Dominicus Corea ) the precedence of a King, and, in order to cement the friendship between the two, gave him a Royal Princess - Subadra Devi.' (She was the daughter of sub-King Veediya Bandara, ruler of the Principality of the Seven Korales.)

Vimala Dharma made a proclamation throughout his capital, that on the following day would be celebrated the marriage and coronation of 'Edirimanne Suriya Bandara' - which was the name (It was his wife's family name) adopted by Corea for his investiture with Royal rank - and ordering that all the grandees of the kingdom should be present in gala dress. Edirimanne Suriya Bandara, the new-made King, wearing a crown of gold on his head, was then accommodated on the seat of the back of the middle elephant; while two influential chiefs - the oldest Mudaliyars of the (Kandyan) Court - rode each on an elephant by the side.'

The 'Mahavamsa', the recorded chronicles of Sri Lankan history (starting from the 3rd Century BCE), refers to Edirille Rala as a 'war hero.' The Mahavamsa recalls the meeting of Edirille Rala and Commander Veediya Bandara who led the armies of the Kandyan kingdom. Edirille Rala married his daughter when he was crowned King of Kotte and Sitawaka. According to the Mahavamsa, 'He (Veediya Bandara), went and stopped at the Seven Korale. By this time, the ruler there was a war hero. He was Edirimanne Suriya, better known as Edirille Rala. He had made Mudukondapala, a place close to Kurunegala, his capital city. When he saw Commander Veediya Bandara, he was delighted and welcomed him with all love and respect. He was well treated. Then both of them broke into conversation. Edirille Rala, just like Veediya Bandara, was an erstwhile enemy of the Portuguese. As such, this meeting of theirs was extra special. Both of them were enemies of the King of Sitawaka as well. This common feature was something to be happy about.'

'Sabaragamuwe Vamsa Kathawa,' ('Sabaragamuwa - in Legend and History'), a book published by the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, mentions Edirille Rala: 'Some of the very heroic and colourful figures in our history are sons of Sabaragamuwa - Parakramabahu I, born in Dedigama, the warrior King Rajasinghe I also known as Sitawaka Rajasingha, Edirille Rala born in Colombo and baptised Domingo Corea, who returned to the village of his ancestors Atulugama near Sitawaka and turned against the Portuguese.'. In his lifetime he fought for all the contending forces of the period, often changing his allegiance.