Kirti Sri Rajasinha of Kandy

Kirti Sri Rajasinha Of Kandy

Kirti Sri Raja Singha was the second Nayaka king of Kandy. He was a prince from the Madurai Nayak Dynasty and the brother-in-law of Sri Vijaya Raja Singha. He succeeded his brother-in-law to the throne in 1751.

He devoted the first few years of his reign to the advancement of literature and religion. The king, later with Dutch assistance learned from Bhikkus from Siam (Thailand) for the purpose of advancing Buddhism in Sri Lanka, also building the Raja Maha Vihara (Gangarama) in Kandy. King built the existing inner temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and caused the Mahavamsa chronicle to be continued from the time of Parakrama Bahu IV down to his own reign. He also rebuilt the Munneswaram temple close to Chilaw.