The story of the Sinhalese people begins with a legend that blends history and myth. Around 543 BC, a banished prince from India named Vijaya arrived on the shores of Sri Lanka with 700 followers. This event is traditionally believed to have occurred on the exact day of Gautama Buddha’s Parinirvana (passing away).
The Banished Prince
Vijaya was the eldest son of King Sinhabahu of Sinhapura. According to the Mahavamsa, he was a rebellious youth whose violent conduct led to his exile. His father shaved the heads of Vijaya and his followers halfway as a mark of disgrace and cast them adrift on ships.
The Landing at Tambapanni
After a perilous journey, the ships landed on the copper-colored sands of the northwestern coast, a place they named Tambapanni. Here, Vijaya encountered Kuveni, a princess of the indigenous Yakkha tribe. Their alliance—and subsequent marriage—allowed Vijaya to defeat the local chieftains and establish his rule.
The Founding of a Nation
Vijaya became the first recorded king of Sri Lanka, founding the “Sinhala” race (People of the Lion). While he eventually discarded Kuveni to marry a princess from the Indian Pandyan kingdom to legitimize his bloodline, his arrival marks the beginning of the island’s recorded history and the Indo-Aryan heritage of the Sinhalese people.