VELLORE: A group of relatives of the last Sri Lankan Tamil King Vikrama Singe paid homage at his grave at the Muthu Mantapam on Monday.
The relatives who had come from across the state, to commemorate his 181st death anniversary held special prayers (guru puja) to mark the occasion.
According to Ashok Raja of Madurai, his ancestor Vikrama Singe was earlier known as Prince Kannasamy and was the last king of Sri Lanka from Tamil Nadu belonging to the Madurai Nayak dynasty. He had fought against the British who defeated him in 1815.
The king and his family members were brought to Vellore Fort where they were imprisoned for more than 15 years. He died here in 1832 on January 30. The State government has erected the Muthu Mantapam, a memorial for the erstwhile king, as well as the queen Savithri Devi, their two sons and a daughter, on the Palar river bed here.
Ashok said that there were many heirs of the king who currently live across the country and this occasion brings them together annually. His grandfather received a royal pension from Kandy up to the 1960s, Some of the queen’s relatives from Chennai were also present on the occasion.
Ashok Raja also sought help from the State government to erect a statue of the king in Vellore and appealed for the Muthu Mantapam to be developed to attract more tourists.