Don’t forget Parakramabahu I (the great)was partly of Dravidian extraction as well.

The Kandyan Kingdom has been mainly protected by the military brilliances of few who were greatly respected by the people and the kingdom fell to the invaders when the foreign Nayakkar kings alienated themselves from the people and lost the people’s respect.

First when Portuguese attacked the kingdom the leader of the Kandyan Army was Konappu Bandara who later became king of Kandy, Wimaladarmasuriya. Konappu Bandara was a warrior of great reputation feared by many who even had training in Goa India under the Portuguese earlier.

Then when the Dutch attacked the kingdom, the kingdom’s army was led by Dumbara Disawe and Meda Mahanuwara Nilame. That time they gathered people from Matale areas and defeated the Dutch when the Nayakkar King ran away leaving his people at the mercy of the invaders.

Then when the British attacked the kingdom in 1797, the army was mainly lead by Dumbara Disawe and few others. King Sri Wickrama entered at a later stage and when against the advice of his military leaders he tried to chase the already defeated British across open grounds into Colombo, the kandyan army got defeated down to Hanwella or there abouts.

Dumabara Disawe used Angampora to great extent in his military campaigns which forced the British to ban it and shoot those who found practicing it.

in 1802 when Dumbara Disawe died, Ahelepola Nilame who was also a great warrior was appointed in his place as Deputy Adigar. King Sri Wickrama then tried to seduce Ahelopola’s wife and in the process tried to kill the Nilame, who then ran to the British and when the King killed Kumarihamy and kids the British used the Nilame to defeat the Kandyan kingdom.

The people were told always to keep in store food for up to three months. This was because they could be called and be away in military duty in case of any invasions and the food is for the families to live in the absence of men.