User:Blackknight12/List of historical Sri Lankan overseas military operations

This is a list of overseas military operations during the history of Sri Lanka. It is from Sri Lanka's first recorded overseas military operation in 120 by Gajabahu I to Parākramabāhu I's assistance to the Pandyan Kingdom against the Cholas in 1167.

Anuradhapurian invasion of the Chola Kingdom (120)
During the reign of Vankanasika Tissa, the father of Gajabahu I, 12,000 Sinhalese men had been sent to work on the Kaveri River on the Coromandel coast, this had developed into a kidnapping by the king of the Chola Kingdom in southern India.

By the time of Gajabahu I, as a young king, Gajabahu was not aware of what had happened during his fathers reign. He soon found out about the fate of the 12,000 of his countrymen and the sacred Alms-bowl of Buddha, looted from his country by the previous invaders. Gajabahu assembled his army and begins an invasion of the Chola Kingdom in a effort to rescue the 12,000 Sinhalese prisoners. With his General Nila, a giant who lit the sea, they crossed over to India through Palk Strait safely leading his army into the Chola Kingdom of South India.

Once in the Chola Kingdom Gajabahu liberated the 12,000 Sinhalese prisoners and took back the holy Alms Bowl, he further forced the Chola king to hand over 12,000 Tamils as compensation to repair the damages caused by the South Indian invaders. These Tamil prisoners were taken back and were then allowed to settle and live in Sri Lanka. They were housed in the hill country, some of them possibly near the modern city of Matale and Alutkuru Korale (modern North Western Province), and were absorbed in to Sinhalese nation through marriages. This would soon be a mistake because the Sinhala philosophy was neither cherished nor passed down with pride or honour in these families. Instead of sending them back, he settled them in 6 suburbs of Kandy and even built Hindu kovils for them. They married Sinhala women. While many of them respected the land and the people, many of them would betray Sri Lanka in the following South Indian invasions.

The Rajaveliya, a chronicle of Sri Lanka composed in the kingdom of Kandy, describes the events as the following:


 * Taking the giant Nila with him he went and struck the sea with an iron mace,. divided the waters in twain, and going quietly on arrived at the Soli capital, struck terror into the king of Soli, and seated himself on the throne like King Sak; whilst the giant Nila seized the elephants. in the city and killed them by striking one against another.


 * The ministers informed the king of Soli of the devastation of the city thus being made. Thereupon he inquired of Gajaba, "Is the Sinhala host come to destroy this city?" Gajaba repiled, " I have a little boy who accompanied me; there is no army," and caused the giant Nila to be brought and made to stand by his side. Thereupon the king of Soli asked, "Why has your Majesty come along without an army?" Gajaba replied, " I have come to take back the 12,000 persons whom your royal father brought here as prisoners in the time of my father." To this the king of Soli saying, "A king of our family it was who, in time past, went to the city of the gods and gained victory in the war with the Asuras," refused to send for and deliver the men. Then Gajaba grew `wroth and said, "Forthwith restore my 12,000 people, giving 12,000 more besides them; else will I destroy this city and reduce it to ashes." Having said this, he squeezed out water from sand and showed it; squeezed water from his iron mace and showed that. Having in this way intimidated the king of Soli he received the original number supplemented by an equal number of men as interest, making 24,000 persons in all. He also took away the jewelled anklets of the goddess Pattini, and the insignia of the gods of the four devala, and also the bowl-relic which had been carried off in the time of king Valagamba; and admonishing the king not to act thus in future, departed.

Pandyan kingdom (853)
During the reign of Sena I the Pandyans, under Sirmara Srivallabha (815-62) had invaded Sri Lanka where the Tamil residents in the country joined them. Sena I had lost his throne and retired into the Malaya district, while Anuradhapura was sacked. The Pandyan army had plundered a great part of the kingdom, taking the Tooth and Bowl Relics and the Golden Budda statues. Sena I eventually made terms with the invaders and brought peace to the kingdom.

Sena II, Nephew of Sena I, as a young king noticed a huge lotus pedestal whose Buddha statue was missing, he then learnt of the looted treasures. Before sending a expeditionary force against the Pandyan king, Sena II, who was in his ninth year or reign, first strengthened his resources needed to wage a campaign to recover the lost treasures. The son of Pandyan king who was taking refuge in Sri Lanka, Varagunavarman II fell out with his father Sirmara Srivallabha while he was in battle with the Pallavas, at that time the Sinhala army moved in. General Kuttaka led the victorious Sinhala army into the Pandyan kingdom and took and sacked Madurai, the capital of the Pandyan kingdom. Sirmara Srivallabha attempted to regain his capital but died of his wounds. General Kuttaka then enthroned Varagunavarman II as king of Pandyan Kingdom.

The Sinhala army returned with many of the treasures looted by the Pandyans in the time of Sena I, and a huge victory banquet was held. The famous Golden Buddha statue of Thuparamaya was replaced after repairing Lovamahapaya for the 4th time. Special guards, who would protect the statue with their death, were appointed. The Pandyans would not invade Sri Lanka again for another 34 years.

Pandyan kingdom (1167–1183)
The army of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, under General Lankapura, in around 1167 helps the Pandyan kingdom against invading Cholas.