“STORIES OF ANCIENT CEYLON”(Series) by Desmond Kelly Around the middle of the twelfth century, a prince of great physical & mental vigor came into power at an area once known as Pulatthi, now much better known as Polonnaruwa, about sixteen miles south-east of another famous old area named Minneriya. Parakrama Bahu (A.D.1153-1186) was born in Ruhuna, (the south of the Island), where the Sinhalese had retreated to, after being thoroughly weakened by repeated “invasions” by the Southern Indians who obviously wanted to add this little jewel into the crown of Mother-India. Even as a boy, young Parakrama was not satisfied that Kings of “his people” had to live on the borders of their own kingdom. How many times were they going to give-in to other conquerers and take second place in a Country that was their own. He couldn’t understand this, and being a prince himself, determined to do something ...