The
Anuradhapura Kingdom (
Sinhala: ), named for
its capital city, was the first established
kingdom in ancient
Sri Lanka. Founded by King
Pandukabhaya in 377 BC, the kingdom's authority extended throughout the country, although several independent areas emerged from time to time, which grew more numerous towards the end of the kingdom. Nonetheless, the king of Anuradhapura was seen as the supreme ruler of the country throughout the Anuradhapura period.
Buddhism played a strong role in the Anuradhapura period, influencing its culture, laws, and methods of governance. Society and culture were revolutionized when the faith was introduced during the reign of King
Devanampiya Tissa; this cultural change was further strengthened by the arrival of the
Tooth Relic of the Buddha in Sri Lanka and the patronage extended by her rulers.