hell. It is true that my father and my ancestors died pagans. But I see that the religion of Buddum contains errors as intolerable as they are incompatible with reason. I have come to understand that the penitence of the Christians is the true remedy for sins. Though I know the truth Christ, on account of the place which I hold, I am unable to receive Baptism at once, for the least suspicion that they should have of me in this regard would be enough to ruin the whole of my realm. I beg you to patronize cause in front of the Governor of India, that he may come to my assistance more readily and give me 100 soldiers to protect my person, lest my adversaries prevail against me as well as against the prospects of the total conversion of my lieges". Antonio Barreto assisted Xavier in trying to convert Bhuvanaikabahu, however he was reluctant as he would upset the people of his kingdom who were Buddhist, and would further implicate him as a puppet of the Portuguese. The Portuguese finally gave up on their endeavour, and the monarchy in Portugal were notified. Assassination After the Portuguese halted their attempts in converting Bhuvanaikabahu, plans were made to assassinate him on the orders of Viceroy Afonso de Noronha. As the king passed one of his windows in his place, the gunman fired his musket. Bhuvanaikabahu fell, the bullet having passed through his head. The king was attended to and various medicines were used to treat him, but he died after three hours on December the 29th 1550 (some sources suggest 1551). Other books state that Bhuvanaikabahu was murdered on the orders of his brother Mayadunne, who reigned in Sitawaka. Family Bhuvanaikabahu had no male heirs to the throne. By his queen he had a daughter, Samudra Devi. The king had organised for her to be married to Prince Jayo Bandara, however she was in love with a prince called Vidiya Bandara of Irugal-Malala clan, who murdered Jayo Bandara and married Samudra Devi. Their son, Dharmapala, succeeded Bhuvanaikabahu as king of Kotte. Dharmapala was also a baptized Catholic, taking the Portuguese name João (English: John), and thus was very cooperative towards the Portuguese. See also List of Sinhalese monarchs House of Siri Sanga Bo References External links Kingdom of Kandy - Mahanuwara Kings & Rulers of Sri Lanka Codrington's Short History of