| Dharmapala | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Kotte | |||||
| Reign | 1551 – 27 May 1597 | ||||
| Predecessor | Bhuvanekabahu VII | ||||
| Successor | Rajasinha I of Sitawaka | ||||
| Born | 1541 Royal Palace, Kotte | ||||
| Died | 27 May 1597 (aged 55/56) Portuguese Fort, Colombo | ||||
| Burial | St. Francis Shrine, Colombo 01. (now - President's House) | ||||
| Consort | Dona Isabella Dona Margarida Dona Catherina | ||||
| Issue | Princess Alingosse queen consort of King Bayinnaung[1] | ||||
| |||||
| House | House of Siri Sanga Bo | ||||
| Dynasty | Kingdom of Kotte | ||||
| Father | Lord Veediya Bandara | ||||
| Mother | Crown Princess Samudra Devi | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism prev. Theravada Buddhism | ||||
| Signature |  | ||||
Dharmapala or Dom João Dharmapala Peria Bandara (1541 – 27 May 1597) was the last king of the Kingdom of Kotte, in present-day Sri Lanka, from 1551 until 27 May 1597. He is also known as Dom João Dharmapala, the first Christian king in Sri Lankan history.[2][3] He is widely despised by the majority of Buddhist Sinhalese for having betrayed his religion of birth i.e., Buddhism and converting to the religion of the foreign conquerors, who carried a reign of terror. Dharmapala allowed Buddhist Temples in his Kingdom, including the highly venerated Temple of Kelaniya to be ransacked and burnt down by the Portuguese.
- ^ (Maha Yazawin Vol. 3 2006: 35): New moon of Thadingyut 934 ME = 24 September 1573
- ^ Fernando, Mario (2007). Spiritual Leadership in the Entrepreneurial Business: A Multifaith Study. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN 9781847208613. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ "Portuguese encounter with King of Kotte in 1517". Denis N. Fernando. Retrieved 15 October 2015.