1232 AC - 1236 AC

During the period when the cruel rule of Kalinga Magha prevailed in Rajarata, the chronicles state that independent administrations existed in other regions of the country, where local kings governed their respective territories. Among them, a prominent figure was King Vijayabahu III, who ruled the Maya Rata.
Although the chronicles do not provide details regarding his ancestry, the author of the Mahavamsa mentions that he was descended from the royal lineage of Sri Sanghabodhi. This king successfully liberated the entirety of Maya Rata from Tamil domination and maintained it as an independent kingdom.
He invited back all the monks who had fled the country. Since Magha had destroyed many religious manuscripts containing Buddhist teachings, these sacred texts were rewritten. The reproduction of the Tripitaka scriptures stands as one of the foremost religious services rendered by this king.
Furthermore, he recovered the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Alms Bowl Relic from the places where they had been hidden and brought them to Dambadeniya. At Beligala, he constructed a magnificent Temple of the Tooth and conducted regular religious ceremonies and offerings. Royal patronage was granted to unite the Buddhist clergy and to ensure the proper continuation of higher ordination (Upasampada) ceremonies.
The king also built a splendid monastery known as Vijaya Sundararama and restored many temples and monasteries that had fallen into ruin. Having reached old age, and with the blessings of the Maha Sangha, he entrusted the kingdom to his eldest son, Prince Parakramabahu.
He is remembered in history as the first king of the Dambadeniya Kingdom.
— Isura Wickramaarachchi, Mahavansa Pradeepikawa