King Kirti Sri Rajasinha
International Connections
Kirti Sri Rajasinha's 35-year reign witnessed a Buddhist renaissance; he invited Siamese monks to re-establish higher ordination and sponsored extensive temple construction. Despite Dutch coastal dominance, he preserved Kandy's cultural vibrancy and independence, making his era one of remarkable religious and artistic flourishing..
Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747–1781) ruled Kandy for 34 years, presiding over a Buddhist renaissance. He invited monks from Siam (Thailand) to restore higher ordination lineages (Upasampada), revitalizing the Sangha. His reign sponsored temple construction, literary patronage, and the Esala Perahera festival's elaboration. Despite his Tamil origins, he became a champion of Sinhalese-Buddhist culture, illustrating kingship's religious-cultural foundations transcending ethnicity.