Queen Lilavati (reigned 1197–1200, 1209–10, and 1211–12) was the second woman in
Sri Lankan history to rule as sovereign in her own right. Lilavati rose to prominence as the wife of
Parakramabahu I, king of the
Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. Being of royal descent herself, she then ruled as sole monarch on three different occasions in the near-anarchy following Parakramabahu's death, with the backing of various generals. The primary source for her life is the
Culavamsa, specifically chapter LXXX.