King Kelanitissa
Reign: c. 2nd Century BCE
Kingdom: Kelaniya Kingdom
Country: Sri Lanka
Kelanitissa was a regional king ruling the Kingdom of Kelaniya (Maya Rata) in the 2nd Century BCE. He is a pivotal figure in Sri Lankan legends, best known for a tragic incident where he boiled a Buddhist monk in oil, suspecting him of aiding a love affair involving the queen.
This act reputedly angered the gods, causing the ocean to flood inland. To appease the waters, the king sacrificed his daughter, Princess Viharamahadevi, by setting her adrift on a boat.
She survived and landed in Ruhuna, where she married King Kavan Tissa and gave birth to the national hero, King Dutugemunu.