Kirti Sri Rajasinha of Kandy
Kirti Sri Rajasinha (Sinhala: කීර්ති ශ්රී රාජසිංහ, Tamil: கீர்த்தி ஸ்ரீ ராஜசிங்கம்; 11 August 1747 – 2 January 1782) was the second Nayaka king of Kandy. He was a prince from the Madurai Nayak Dynasty and the brother-in-law of Sri Vijaya Raja Singha. He succeeded his brother-in-law to the throne in 1751.
| Kirti Sri Rajasinha | |
|---|---|
| Thrisinhaladheeshwara Lankeshwara Bhupathi King | |
Kirti Sri Rajasinha and Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero | |
| King of Kandy | |
| Reign | 11 August 1747 – 2 January 1782 |
| Coronation | 1750 |
| Predecessor | Sri Vijaya Rajasinha |
| Successor | Rajadhi Rajasinha |
| Born | 1734 |
| Died | 2 January 1782 (aged 47-48) Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Burial | Royal Cremation Yard, Asgiri Temple, Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Consort | Queen Consort (Daughter of Nadukattu Sami Nayakkar) |
| Spouses |
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| Issue |
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| Sinhala | කීර්ති ශ්රී රාජසිංහ |
| Tamil | கீர்த்தி ஸ்ரீ ராஜசிங்கம் |
| House | Nayakkar |
| Father | Lord Narenappa Nayakkar |
| Mother | Lady Upendramma Devi |
| Signature | |
The king is credited for the revival of Buddhism and literature in Sri Lanka. Under the guidance and influence of Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero, with Dutch assistance, king Kirti Sri Raja Singha successfully invited Bhikkus from Siam (Thailand) to revive the higher ordination of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka.
He also built the existing inner temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Raja Maha Vihara (Gangarama) in Kandy. During his reign the Mahavamsa chronicle was continued from the time of Parakramabahu IV of Dambadeniya. He also rebuilt the Munneswaram temple close to Chilaw.