According to the Ceylonese Pali chronicles Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, it was prince Vijaya from Kalinga who founded the Sinhala race in Sri Lanka. He along with 700 of his followers deported from the kingdom and sailed to Tamraparni and established a new civilization in the island. The name ‘Sinhala’ was a title given to Vijaya’s father, which he later inherited. Vijaya ruled the kingdom found under the name ‘Sinhala’ for 32 years and around 2,500 families of the Kalingan origin migrated to Sri Lanka during his rule.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada maligawa, situatedin the city of Kandy, is one of the most sacred place of worship in SriLanka. This Tooth of Relic was handed over to King Meghavanna, sonof Mahasena by the King of Kaling, Guhasiva secretly through hisdaughter and son in law, in the 310 A.D.
In the coming centuries, Kalinga and Lanka continued with their close relations through political, commercial and religious exchanges. They formed dynastic alliances amongst themselves. Once, one of the greatest monarchs of Sri Lanka, King Vijayabahu-I ,was married to the Kalinga princes Triloka Sundari. It was also not uncommon for Kalinga prince to be anointed as King of Lanka. Nissanka Malla, son of King Jayagopa of Kalinga, who was married to the daughter of King Parakrambhu, claimed to be a descendent from Vijaya, the first king of Sri Lanka, and justified his right to the throne. He further consolidated his position by declaring that the rulers of Sri Lanka should adhere to Buddhism.
