Previous Year Question

The correct answer is Kulottunga I.

Kulottunga I ruled approximately from 1070 to 1122 CE. During his reign, Chola policy towards Sri Lanka differed from the earlier policy of direct military domination followed by previous Chola rulers.

Under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I, the Cholas had established control over large parts of Sri Lanka. However, during the later eleventh century, Vijayabahu I fought against Chola authority and re-established Sinhala political rule in Sri Lanka.

By the reign of Kulottunga I, direct Chola control over Sri Lanka had ended. Historical material records that Kulottunga eventually accepted Vijayabahu's authority over Sri Lanka and adopted a policy of restoring friendly relations. Academic material from the Punjab State Open University similarly states that Kulottunga had to acknowledge Vijayabahu's authority over Sri Lanka.

As part of this process, one of Kulottunga I's daughters was married to a prince named Virapperumal. The Budumuttava inscription from Sri Lanka records a daughter of the Chola king Kulottunga as the wife of Virapperumal.

In the inscription, Kulottunga's daughter is read under a name such as Cundhamalliyalvar/Suttamalli. There is some scholarly uncertainty over the precise identification of Virapperumal; he has generally been connected with Manabharana/Virabahu, who had close links with the Sinhala royal family.

The wording “gave complete freedom to Sri Lanka” requires some historical qualification. More precisely, Vijayabahu expelled Chola power and restored an independent Sinhala kingdom, while Kulottunga subsequently accepted this political reality and established friendly relations. Thus, Sri Lankan independence was not simply a unilateral grant by Kulottunga.

Nevertheless, the two features referred to in the question—the end of direct Chola control over Sri Lanka and the dynastic marriage involving his daughter—are associated with Kulottunga I.