Home paid at memorial of last Sri Lankan Tamil King in Vellore

Residents and family members of the last Sri Lankan Tamil King Vikrama Singe paid homage at his grave in Muthu Mandapam opposite the new bus terminus, off Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH 48) in Vellore on Friday, on the occasion of his 194th death anniversary.

Residents, family members, relatives and descendants of the king, led by present heir Ashok Raja of Madurai, organised special prayers (guru puja) to commemorate the occasion. The State government has erected the Muthu Mandapam, a memorial for the erstwhile king as well as queen Savithri Devi, their two sons and a daughter, on the Palar river bed in Vellore years ago, after the descendants of the ruler requested the government for a memorial.

Local historians said that King Vikrama Singe was earlier known as Prince Kannasamy and he was the last king of Sri Lanka from Tamil Nadu belonging to the Madurai Nayak dynasty. He had fought against the British who defeated him in 1815. The king and his family members were brought to Vellore Fort where they were imprisoned for more than 15 years. He died in the fort prison on January 30, 1832.