yuvaraja

Sri Lankan political history

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "yuvaraja" refers to the king's chosen heir to the throne in Sri Lankan political history. This administrative role was part of the inner hierarchy that supported the king, alongside family members and influential nobles. The yuvaraja was given responsible office, indicating their importance in the kingdom's governance. This system was prevalent during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods, where kingship served as a unifying political institution deeply intertwined with Buddhism. The senapati, or commander in chief, was also a close counselor to the king, highlighting the military's significant role in royal authority.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Sri Lanka
Government and society
The yuvaraja, the king’s chosen heir to the throne, was given responsible office. The army was the major prop of royal absolutism, and the senapati, or commander in chief, was the king’s closest counselor and confidant.
Read More
The yuvaraja, the king’s chosen heir to the throne, was given responsible office. The army was the major prop of royal absolutism, and the senapati, or commander in chief, was the king’s closest counselor and confidant.
Read More