Prince Vijaya (c. 543–505 BCE) was a legendary king of Tambapanni, based in modern day Sri Lanka.

After arriving on the island, Vijaya and his settlers defeated a yaksha near "Thammena" (Tambapaṇṇī) displacing the inhabitants.

[2] According to the Mahāvaṃsa, the king of Vanga (the historical Bengal region) married a princess named Mayavati of neighbouring Kalinga (present-day Odisha).

She joined a caravan headed for Magadha, which was attacked by Sinha ("lion") in a forest in the Lala (or Lada) region.

It has been identified with Singur, West Bengal (in the Rada, or Rarh, region) or Singhpur, near Jajpur (Sinhapura, Odisha).

[9] Vijaya was made the prince regent by his father, but he and his band of followers became notorious for their violent deeds.

After their repeated complaints failed to stop him, prominent citizens demanded that Vijaya be put to death.

Vijaya's ship later reached Lanka, in the area known as Tambapanni, on the day that Gautama Buddha died in northern India.

[3][6] Those who think that Vijaya set out from the west coast of India (Sinhapura was in Gujarat) identify present-day Sopara as the location of Supparaka.

[10] Those who think that Sinhapura was in the Vanga-Kalinga region identify it with locations off the east coast of India; S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar speculates that Supparaka might have been Sumatra.

[11] According to the Mahavamsa, Gautama Buddha asked the lord of gods (identified as Indra) before he attained Nirvana to protect Vijaya in Lanka so Buddhism could flourish there.

Vijaya's followers decided to crown him king, but for this he needed a maiden of a noble house as queen.

[3][13] Vijaya then asked Kuveni, his Yakkhini consort, to leave the community because his citizens feared supernatural beings like her.

On the advice of her maternal uncle, the children fled to Sumanakuta (identified with Adam's Peak).

Vijaya bestowed gifts on his ministers and his father-in-law; he abandoned his evil ways, and ruled Lanka in peace and justice.

Concerned in old age that he would die without an heir, he decided to bring his twin brother Sumitta from India to govern his kingdom.

[3][16] In Sri Lanka, the legend of Vijaya is political rhetoric used to explain the origin and genetics of the Sinhalese; it is often treated as an account of historical events.