Pandukabhaya of Anuradhapura

Pandukabhaya (Sinhala: ) was a king of Upatissa Nuwara and the first monarch of the Anuradhapura Kingdom. Pandukabhaya reigned from 437 BC to 367 BC. According to many historians and philosophers, he is considered the first truly Sri Lankan king, and the ruler who ended the conflict between the Sinha clan and the local clans, reorganizing the population. Pandukabhaya was mentored by Pandula and Pandula's son Chandra was his advisor.

A brahmin called Pandula knew of the prince's identity and taught him the necessary skills to become a king, even providing him an army, which the prince stationed them in Kasagala.

Establishing of a new kingdom Prince Pandukabhaya arrived in Anuradhagama, a name given to it by Vijaya’s minister Anuradha. Pandukabhaya established a kingdom called the Anuradhapura kingdom. Chandra, son of the brahmin Pandula, was appointed as the king's chief advisor. Pandukabhaya's other close allies were also awarded with high rank positions.

Pandukabhaya established an organized system of governance. He deployed scavengers to keep the city clean, built one of the oldest hospitals, and built the first reservoir in the Anuradhapura kingdom, called the Abaya Wewa. Pandukabhaya created a position called "nagara gutthika" to rule the city, to which he appointed his uncle Abhaya.

In his tenth year as king, he ordered the demarcation of all the villages on the island; the first king to do this.

Personal life Queen Swanapali (or Swarnamali Devi, née Pali) was the spouse of King Pandukabhaya. She was the daughter of prince Girikandasiva, a powerful son of King Panduvasdeva with eight brothers. The legend is that, when she first met Prince Pandukabhaya, she was served food to him on a Lotus leaf, and the leaf turned golden. Because of this incident, princess Pali came to be known as Swarnapali (swarna means "gold").

Popular culture Aba, a 2008 film based on the historical legend of King Pandukabhaya