King of Sri Lanka (302-15 A.C.). He was a Lambakaṇṇa of Mahiyaṅgana, and having gone to Anurādhapura with Saṅghatissa and Saṅghabodhi, he, with their help, slew the reigning king, Vijaya, and they reigned in succession (Mhv.xxxvi.58). Goṭhakābhaya became Saṅghabodhi’s treasurer but, seeing the king’s weakness, he led a rebellion against him and captured the throne (vv.91, 98-117; for details see Saṅghabodhi). In addition to other religious works, he built the Meghavaṇṇābhaya-vihāra. He banished from Abhayagiri sixty monks who had accepted the Vetullavāda heresy, but a Coḷa monk, Saṅghamitta, defeated in discussion the thera Goṭhābhaya, the king’s uncle, and became the king’s favourite, obtaining the position of tutor to the king’s two sons, Jeṭṭhatissa and Mahāsena. The king was also known as Meghavaṇṇābhaya (v.98).