The Protocol
The Arya Chakravarti Dynasty
The Protocol of the Royal House of Jaffna
The custom of inheritance of the throne is normally by primogeniture in the Kingdom of Jaffna. Failing this, the throne passes to the brother or a nephew, the son of a brother or sister.
The first twelve monarchs, who succeeded their fathers, were independent monarchs of the Kingdom of Jaffna. The rest of them ruled under the suzerainty of the Portuguese. The Jaffna throne was usurped twice by relatives. During the period of influence by the Portuguese, some of the Kings were installed by them.
King Singai Arya Chakravarti Periya Pillai Ethirmanasingham Pararajasekaran reigned from 1591-1615, when the King died, his son had not yet reached the age of three. Crown Prince Don Constantino remained heir to the throne. The King Singai Arya Chakravarti Periya Pillai Ethirmanasingham Pararajasekaran entrusted his only son to the care of Prince Periya Pillai Arasakesari Pandaram. He authorised him to administrate the Kingdom as "Prince Regent", up to the time the Crown Prince Don Constantino became old enough to assume the reign. Prince Periya Pillai Arasakesari Pandaram promised to do everything faithfully and on the brother's deathbed in 1615, he was acclaimed Prince Regent of Jaffna, and was obeyed by all. He reigned from 1615-1616, for the three year old son. Prince Sangili (II) was the nephew of the late King Singai Arya Chakravarti Periya Pillai Ethirmanasingham Pararajasekaran. However, this prosperity lasted only for a short time. Prince Sangili (II) who was dissatisfied with the arrangements soon began to conspire and a conspiracy was set on foot. When this news was reported to the Prince Regent Periya Pillai Arasakesari Pandaram, he discredited it. In 1616, an assassination took place in the Palace. Prince Sangili (II), ordered his confederates to enter the Palace at the hour of the siesta and to kill the Prince Regent, his uncle and those who were with him. After the Prince Regent Periya Pillai Arasakesari Pandaram was murdered, Prince Sangili (II) usurped the throne of Jaffna. King Singai Arya Chakravarti Sangili (II), he reigned from 1616-1619, under the throne name Segarajasekaran. He was the last King of Jaffna. After King Singai Arya Chakravarti Sangili (II) Segarajasekaran was captured by the Portuguese and the Kingdom of Jaffna was brought under direct Portuguese rule.
On 11 February 1621, the late King Singai Arya Chakravarti Periya Pillai Ethirmanasingham Pararajasekaran's children Crown Prince Don Constantino, Princess Dona Isabel and Princess Dona Maria were made to sign an act, the transfer of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Jaffna to the King of Portugal. This act effectively ended the sovereignty of the Arya Chakravarti Dynasty. The three of them were later sent to Goa where the Crown Prince Don Constantino became a Franciscan as Don Constantino de Cristo and held various posts in the Order. The two Princesses Dona Isabel and Dona Maria became nuns at the Augustinian Convent of St. Monica at Goa, Dona Isabel died in her youth (1645) while Dona Maria lived to an advanced age and on 1 January 1682, was elected Prioress of her Convent and she died on 9 April 1682. Since they choose the life of celibacy, they died without descendants.
After a long interlude, action was taken in 2003, by Prince Remigius Kanagarajah to restore the traditions of the Arya Chakravarti Dynasty with the explicit approval of the family. On 15 June 2005, by the majority acclaim of representative members of the Royal Family of Jaffna, H.R.H. Prince Remigius Kanagarajah took over the responsibility as Head of the Royal House of Jaffna. H.R.H. Prince Remigius Kanagarajah is descended from the Royal Family of Jaffna through his great-grandfather and great-grandmother.
The Head of the Royal House has indisputable authority over all house members. The Head of the Royal House of Jaffna has the duty to protect the members of the Royal House and members are kindly obliged to respect the Protocol.
The Head of the Royal House of Jaffna, his family and all the members of the Royal House bear the Title of Prince or Princess, according to the Jaffna hereditary customs. The Royal Style includes the qualifications of “Royal Highness”.
The Royal titles are not inherited in perpetuity but lapse gradually over generations. The Head of the Royal House of Jaffna is the source of all titles and honours. He has the right to grant Styles and bestow Titles, and no Title is valid unless granted or confirmed by the Head of the Royal House.
The Head of the Royal House of Jaffna, his wife, his heirs, and his family members bear the Title of “Ilavarasan” (Prince) or "Ilavarasi" (Princess) with the Style of His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness (HRH), within the dynasty.
Other members of the Royal House bear the Title of “Ilavarasan” (Prince) or “Ilavarasi” (Princess) with the Style of His Highness or Her Highness (HH).
Some of the members of the Royal House bear the Title of “Ilavarasan” (Prince) or “Ilavarasi” (Princess) without any styles.
The female members can use the title after their marriage but they are not entitled to transmit any Royal Titles to their spouse. The spouses of members of the Royal House will not be entitled to use their Royal Style and Titles in case of divorce. If a member of the Royal House should marry a commoner they will not be entitled to use their Royal Styles of “HRH” or “HH” and they will have the Title of "Ilavarasan" (Personal name) or “Ilavarasi” (Personal name).
The following members of the Royal House of Jaffna bear the Royal Styles and Titles as follows:
The Head of the Royal House of Jaffna
H.R.H. Prince Remigius Kanagarajah
The Parents
The late Ilavarasi Maheswary Marina Antoinette Kanagarajah
The late Ilavarasan Thambirajah Mervin Anthony Kanagarajah
The Family Members
The late Ilavarasan Rajendra Sylvester Kanagarajah (Died as infant)
H.R.H. Ilavarasi Vanaja Maria Queenie Sivathasan
Ilavarasan Suppiah Sivathasan
Ilavarasan Angelo Thomas Rajiendhar Sivathasan
Ilavarasan Anthony Gabbriel Laxman Naveen Sivathasan
Ilavarasan Joseph Rafaell Pravin Sivathasan
H.R.H. Ilavarasan Meryll Venatious Kanagarajah
H.R.H. Ilavarasi Chandramathy Kanagarajah
H.H. Ilavarasi Akhila Clementiene Kanagarajah
H.H. Ilavarasi Achela Meloni Kanagarajah
H.R.H. Ilavarasi Jeraldine Jerome
Ilavarasan Jerome Prithiviraj Balachandran
Ilavarasi Maha Antoinette Jerome
The Senior Family Members
Ilavarasi Seetha Devi Selvarajah
H.H. Ilavarasan Col. Soman Selavarajah
Ilavarasi Sara Bama George
H.H. Ilavarasan Bahman Selvarajah
Ilavarasi Selvaratnam Thambirajah
Ilavarasi Thavamani Devi Thirunavukarasu
Ilavarasan Thambirajah Jeyakumar
Ilavarasan Thambirajah Vijayakumar
Ilavarasi Jeevanayagi Subramaniyam
Ilavarasi Selvanayagi Vaikunthavasan
Ilavarasi Rajanayagi Rajeswaran
Ilavarasi Rajeswary Miriam Therasita Anthonypillai
Ilavarasan Anthonypillai Gerard Joseph Pius
Ilavarasan Anthonypillai Reginold Michael
Ilavarasan Anthonypillai Eugine Mazanold Venesious
The Junior Family Members
Ilavarasan Kadiravelu Mohanraj
Ilavarasan Arasaratnam Mahendran Rabindran
H.R.H. Prince Remigius Kanagarajah of Jaffna
Rajadhani Nilayam
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