Time to place a replica of the crown of King Rajasinhe II at Dodanwela Devale

The final procession of the Dodanwela Natha Devale took place after the conclusion of the Pitisara Devale processions in Kandy on Sunday (27th October).

The Basnayake Nilame of Natha Devale said that it is time that the Archeological Department thinks of placing a replica of the stolen crown of King Rajasinhe II at the Dodanwela Devale.

He also  said that a former Basnayake Nilame had written to the Archaeological Department that a jacket of King Rajasinghe was removed by the Archeological Department, which has still not been returned to the Devale.  The Basnayake Nilame said that it is high time that action be taken in this regard.

The writer saw the original palanquin of  Rajasinghe II, which was also gifted to the Devale which is still been carried at the annual procession of the Devale.

The replica of the crown was processed in Silver and placed in the Kandyan National Museum with some rings within the case.

Around twenty rings  turned out of pure gold made from the ‘ crushed ‘ crown by Kirthipala - the convict in this robbery is somewhere in the country with the word “Sir” engraved inside the rings, as the special Investigator of the CID Rodney Kitulegoda was unable to recover as they were sold by Kirthipala.  These rings would be somewhere in the country and it would be a public service, if they could be returned to the authorities. These rings were crafted from 300 pieces of the cut gold for the crown.  The crown was just trampled inside a ‘night kade ‘ in Kandy and taken away to Kelaniya, to another convict  L.W.Perera according to the proceedings of the Judicial recordings in the case.

But the Golden Crown of Rajasinghe II was in the custody of the Kapurala for three centuries or over since the crown was offered to the Devale by Rajasinghe II, after the Battle of Gannoruwa.

But two convicts Kirthipala and one L.W Perera are alleged to have stolen the crown and they died in prison after their conviction, due the able Investigations of ace investigator Kitulegoda of the CID.
It is time to make amends by the Archaeological Commissioner to install a replica of King Rajasinghe II’s Crown at this Historic Dodanwela Devale in the Yatinuwara electorate, said the Basnayake Nilame Werapitiya.

It is also a noble act if the Department could call anyone who has rings marked “Sir” to be handed over to the Department as a good deed to the society.

Controversial figure 

King Rajasinghe  was  a controversial figure.  He was born in Mahiyangana, but some historians say he was born in Mawanella and he was the son of King Senarath, but some records say he was the son of Vimaldharamasuriya I. The University of Ceylon History Volume II says that Rajasinghe II was the son of King Senarath whose mother was Dona Catherina or Kusmasana Devi, who died in Kegalle, but was cremated at Adhana Maluwa. 

The only semblance of what was left of the Crown was a few pieces of Jewellery of 300 red rubies (according to the Police investigators) and some ‘bits’ of gold, thanks to the Police investigator – Rodney Kitulegoda.

In his bid to save the crown he could collect 300 pieces of cut gold but even these were in  the crucible of a Jeweller to be melted and the last remnants were lost forever.   A replica was wrought and now it is an exhibit at the Kandy National Museum, which was declared open by Governor General William Gopallawa.

King Rajasinghe II who routed the Portuguese gifted his Crown to Dodanwela Devale and his palanquin  then known as the ‘Nanihami Kovil’. The crossbar of the Palanquin which carried the King broke into two and left the King in a state of shock that he could not proceed to ‘Balana’ to engage with the fleeing Portuguese army. But with a vow,  it is said that the crossbar was put in place by a hidden hand and he made his way for the battlefield only with the vow that his crown would be offered if he wins.  He did win and the crown and the palanquin were offered .The Palanquin is still at the Devale used during the annual perahera.  

Original Palanquin 

The original Palanquin is in the devale and is used during the annual perahera.

Inspector Kitulegoda of the CID, who was at one time in Kandy as the Headquarters Inspector took over the investigations which resulted in the arrest of Kirthipala and the recovery of what was possibly the remains of the Gold thin-plated Crown.  Then a replica was wrought in Silver and it is on display today in the National Museum in Kandy.

But the rightful place is the Dodanwela Devale and  for  the people of Dodanwela have a right to have a replica now to stand in their Devale premises.

Unlike any other colonial power, the Portuguese ransacked the country for all the valuables and destroyed all Buddhist places of worship and farming land and produce, which was gathered before the war.

The King had no alternative but to turn towards the Dutch for assistance to meet a formidable force like the Portuguese.

The Portuguese got wind of this overture to the Dutch and they became more vexed. Then as a first step to show their dissent, the Portuguese confiscated two elephants presented to a merchant by the King.  In return, the king took over four horses of the Portuguese.

The ‘Arrowmen’ of the army of the king, it is said sent arrows to the area of the gunpowder and together the King’s armies stealthily surrounded the camp of the Portuguese and massacred five hundred of the soldiers and piled the heads as a pyramid.  The King on inspection of the area was presented with the sword, which is said to have belonged to Commandeer De Mello taken out of the rubble of the dead soldiers.

Both Convicts,  Kirthipala and Perera are reported to have died in prison while serving their sentence.