THE POLONNARUWA KINGS, THE years following the deportation of
Mahinda V. were filled with abortive risings by the Sinhala
alternating with repression by the Cholas. At first the captive
king's son Kassapa or Vikrama Bahu led the national resistance.
On his death anarchy supervened, Sinhala adventurers and
dispossessed Indian princes from the Pandyan country, and even
one Jagatipala from Kanauj asserting authority over portions of
the. Island. Finally the hopes of the Sinhala cented in the
person of the young prince Kitti, who was born about AD. 1039.
When fifteen years of age he defeated the last pretender,
Lokissara, and on attaining his majority at sixteen assumed the
rank of sub-king with the name of Vijaya Bahu . His attention
now was given entirely to the liberation of his country. A first
attempt to secure Polonnaruwa was made in or about A.D. 1066 but
ended in failure, and Vijaya Bahu was compelled to fortify
himself at Vatagiri (Wakirigala in Kogalla District} Rebellion
as usual hampered the young pri