Chapter :

Once upon a time, in the beautiful kingdom of Kelaniya, there lived a kind and brave princess named Viharamahadevi. She was the daughter of King Kelanitissa. One day, the King made a terrible mistake. He punished an innocent monk by boiling him alive in a cauldron of oil. The gods were very angry with this cruel act, and they made the ocean rush inland and flood the land.

The King was very worried and didn't know what to do. Wise soothsayers told him that if a princess was sacrificed to the sea, the raging waves would stop. Princess Viharamahadevi, brave and selfless, decided to sacrifice herself to save her people. She was placed inside a beautifully decorated boat with the words 'Daughter of a King' written on it and set adrift on the sea.

As soon as she was sent off, the sea suddenly turned calm, and the water receded. The King was very upset, the Queen was crying, and the people were angry over the loss of their brave princess. They all started blaming the King.

Meanwhile, Princess Viharamahadevi floated on the sea for many days. Finally, she reached the shore at a place called Dovera in Kirinda, in the southern part of the country, known as Rohana. This area was ruled by King Kavantissa. A fisherman spotted the boat and ran to the castle to tell the King about the princess.

The King sent a grand procession to bring the princess to the palace. When King Kavantissa heard her story, he was very impressed by her bravery and patriotism. He decided to marry Princess Viharamahadevi because she had been so courageous to sacrifice her life for her country. As she reached the shore close to the Lanka Vihara, she was named Viharamahadevi.

Princess Viharamahadevi and King Kavantissa were very happy together. They had two sons, Dutugemunu and Saddhatissa. Dutugemunu grew up to become one of the greatest heroes of Sri Lanka, and Viharamahadevi was recognized as a great heroine.

When an enemy threatened their kingdom, Viharamahadevi convinced her son Dutugemunu to fight and defend their land. Her bravery and wisdom helped her son become a great leader.

Princess Viharamahadevi's story teaches us about courage, sacrifice, and the power of a kind heart. She will always be remembered as one of Sri Lanka's greatest heroines.