Pre-State Era of Sri Lanka

• This country was ruled by many kings and a few queens in ancient times
• Prince Vijaya from India is described as the first king, arriving in the 6th century BC
• Archaeological evidence confirms settlements existed before Prince Vijaya's arrival
• Burial grounds in Beragala and Haldummulla indicate an agricultural society existed from 2400 BC
• A ruling system must have been in place for such a society to avoid chaos
• Political power evolution in this country began before Prince Vijaya's arrival
• Ruling authority is given to a king or queen by the people
• Rulers need the people's consent
• Rulers lacking popular support struggle to maintain power
• 'Mahasmmatha' (general will) described a king with majority consent in ancient eastern countries
• A state is defined as land ruled by a king or queen with the people's will, officials, and the people

Pre-State Era

• The foundation of a state in Sri Lankan history developed later

• The period before Sri Lanka became a state is called the pre-state era

• There was no single ruler during the pre-state period

• Wealthy chieftains controlled power over small areas

• Inscriptions introduced these chieftains as 'Parumaka'

• 'Parumaka' comes from the Sanskrit word 'Pramukha', meaning 'main'

• Power to rule a large or small area depended on their wealth

• The Kothgalakanda inscription in the Kandalama area near Dambulla indicates Parumaka provincial power around 250 BC

• A Parumaka, "Thota Bojaka” offered a cave to Buddhist monks

• "Theerthaya Anubhava Karanna" means "collect taxes and enjoy properties"

• 'Theerthaya' means 'the port'

• The Parumaka in the Kandalama inscription had the power to rule that area

• The Parumakas could offer caves to Buddhist monks

Householders

• Rural settlements had spread in many areas of the dry zone in this country by 900 BC
• Villages consisted of several families, perhaps between 1 to 30
• 'Kula' meant family in ancient times
• The chief of all families was called 'Gruhapathi', later 'Gahapathi' in inscriptions from 250 BC onwards
• An inscription from Periyapuliyankulama mentions a householder engaged in metal trade who offered a cleaned cave to Buddhist monks
• Householders representing each family participated in common village activities
• In simple terms, householders meant chiefs of the families

The Gamikas

• Ancient inscriptions mention a group of people called 'Gramika' or 'Gamika'

• They were the chiefs of the ancient villages

• Ancient villages existed separately, divided by jungle areas

• People thought of villages as 'our village', neighbouring village, and outside villages

• Gramika represented each village in affairs between villages, such as marriages, exchanging goods, and solving problems

• Its meaning is the chief of the village

• A chief represented each village, selected from the householders

• Selection likely favored the wealth and possessions of householders

• Jathaka-Attakathawa tells of a poor man borrowing paddy from the Gamika, confirming their wealth

• Gramikas were rich enough to help others

• The most trusted, richest, and most powerful person was appointed chief of the village by agreement of the householders

• Buddhagosha Thero mentioned in Samantha Pasadika that the Gamika was one who was appointed among the householders themselves

• Gamikas provided leadership in common village activities

• Maintaining the village tank and water distribution was particularly important

• Ruling power was built around him by solving problems, providing leadership, and due to his wealth

• The chiefs acted together, maintaining peace between villages

• Evidence of this was discovered in a cave in Korawkgala, at the Buddhist temple in Sithulpawwa, Hambanthota

• Gamika Siva, Gamika Sumana, and Gamika Thidana cleaned the cave and offered it to Buddhist monks

• They were chiefs of neighboring villages near Sithulpawwa

• The origin of such chiefs of villages was a critical step in developing the country's political power

The Parumakas

• A group of chieftains called Parumakas, were important in developing political power in the ancient society

• A relationship existed between the emergence of these chieftains and the maintenance of ancient tanks

• Settlements spread around small, rain-fed tanks around 900 BC

• Tanks typically held enough water for 10-15 families for a short period

• People faced difficulties during annual dry seasons when tanks ran dry

• Tank systems connected a few tanks to address challenges, that existed closely, through canals

• The first objective was conserving water by carrying water to a tank situated below from a tank situated up when it overflowed during the rainy season

• The second was increasing the dampness on either side of the land of a canal by sending water constantly through the canal between the two tanks

• They were able to cultivate crops easily by increasing the dampness in such a manner

• Ruins of such tank systems can still be seen in the dry zone

• 'Prolapsed tanks' name this type of tank system

• Villages were separate in the dry zone, each with a tank

• Constructing tank systems required village chiefs to discuss and make important decisions about connecting tanks

• The most powerful Gamika represented all villages in the tank system

• The person was called 'Parumaka'

• Parumakas made decisions for the welfare of people in multiple villages of the tank system

• They were considered important chieftains

• Ruins of hundreds of tank systems exist in the dry zone

• Each tank system likely had a Parumaka

• Inscriptions mention hundreds of Parumakas

• Some women were also involved in provincial administration

• Such women were called 'Parumakalu'

• They all ruled small land units where settlement had spread in the dry zone

• Political power in Sri Lanka started as a divided system, also known as 'decentralized ruling'

• The Prumakas, who exercised provincial rule, became powerful, sometimes identifying as 'King'

• An inscription in Embul Ambe, Matale district, mentions Pochani Raja, meaning 'king of the eastern region'

• Pochani means ‘Pracheena (oriental)

• ‘Duhathara Raja’ another king is noted in a Yatahalena temple cave in Kegalle

• The word 'king' means 'one who makes others happy'

• It refers to one who works for the people's welfare

• The Parumakas acted in this manner, later being named kings.

• This was the origin of the brave kings who ruled Sri Lanka

Growth of Kingship

• The growth of kingship means centralizing the power that was decentralized

• Centralizing political power unites a country

• Power is held by one person

• When power is centralized, the concept of a state is created

• Head of state is a king with a specific territory

• According to historical sources, King Pandukabhaya was the first king of this country

• According to the Mahawamsa, Pandukabhaya:

• Ascended to kingship by fighting provincial rulers (his uncles) and capturing areas.

• Selected Anuradhapura as his ruling center and built it up.

• Marked rural borders during his tenth year as king

• The need for centralized political power emerged during Devanampiyatissa's rule

• Growing trade in the Indian Ocean influenced this

• Sri Lanka's location made it important to international traders

• Gems, tuskers, and spices became attractive commodities

• Independent country became necessary to participate in trade

• Powerful provincial rulers saw the need to unify the country

• King Dutugemunu furthered centralized political power with Parumaka support

• Army generals during his reign, such as Velusumana, Pussadeva, Theraputtabhaya, and Nandimithra, were Parumakas

• Inscriptions in Situlpawwa mention this

• King Dutugemunu obtained Parumaka support and centralized power

• Regional chieftains, Parumakas during decentralized power, held different posts after centralization.

• Changed names: Parumaka Pussadeva, Parumaka Velusumana, Parumaka Therputtabhaya, became Senapathi Parumaka Pussadeva, Senapathi Parumaka Velusumana, Senapathi Parumaka Teraputtabhaya.

• Devanampiyatissa invited Kshasthriyan clan from Kataragama and Chandanagama to Sri Maha Bodhi planting

• The king planted a branch of Sri Maha Bodhi across the country to build regional ruler affinity

• Devanampiyatissa's coronation used the five insignia of royalty from Emperor Ashoka of India

• Ashoka's title, 'Devanampiya', was also used

• Mihindu thero brought Buddhism, reflecting relationships with countries in the Indian oceanic region

Statecraft

• During decentralized political power, Parumakas combined to build the state

• The king was the head of all Parumakas

• 'Mahaparumaka' or 'Mapurumuka' was used to name the king

• Some powerful Parumakas used the name 'king' before centralization

• After political power centralization, 'Maha Raja' was used to name the country ruler

• Most ancient inscriptions reveal officials in state administration that developed after centralization

• King – Maha Raja (Mapurumuka)

• Chief Minister – Maha Emathi (Mahamatha)

• Ministers – Emathiwaru (Ametha) + Commanders (Shenapathi)

• Treasurer – Bhandagarika (Badagarika)

• Officer in charge of the Dining Hall – (Bathagu)

• Officer in charge of customs –(Kothuruge na)

• Administrator of the city -(Nagaragutika)

• Architect of the city (Nagara Wudika)

• Officer in charge of the horses (Asa Adeka)

• Officer in charge of tuskers (Hathi Adeka)

• Officer in charge of dramas (Nata Adeka)

• Officer in charge of making coins (Rupa Adeka)

• Officer in charge of trades (Pana Adeka)

• Officer in charge of archives (Kanapedika)

• This official structure aided country administration and benefitted common people

King Dutugemunu

• A ruler who organized political power in this country King Dutugemunu
• He saw that Mathota international harbor needed protection, to maintain its income
• He wanted to unite from King Elara and uniting the country.
• Prince Dutugemunu's role under King Kavantissa defines political history
• To organize a fighting movement in this country Prince Dutugemunu was the first leader
• He wanted to fight against King Elara not for comforts but instead for Buddhism
• By respecting his defeated rival's tomb King Dutugemunu showed his statesmanship
• In 'growth of kingship" section, his combining Parumakas with provincial power mattered
• By being called king (Maha Raja) of this country he possessed the power after being anointed
• His views displayed redressing people by working for the people
• During Ruwanweli Stupa production the the king instructed to run alms halls (Dan Sel) at the four gates of the Stupa
• Because of his work organizing the the decentralised political power in Sri Lanka he is recognized

King Vasabha

• King Vasabha became the first ruler (dynasty) of Lambhakarna, he followed a procedure for the internal regulation of he country

• The king divided the country into provinces

• The king made a collection process of taxing for the time, that would be systematically

• Large-scale tanks in this country were pioneered constructing King Vasabha in the chronicles of writing

• Due to high demand the king executed this, as grains produced in this country in South India, had it there because of Krishna river

• By deciding to invest in King Vasabha’s new reservoir were productive to the immediate international and regional need

• King Vasabha worked in Buddhist temples and Stupas

• It is given that King Vasabha reconstruct damaged the locations in temples and the facilities for the Bhikkus provided

• The king’s decision the needs to increase the local income to assist people and develop irrigation in this manner and exemplary

King Vijayabahu I

• During the period of the power of the Chola kings he acted suppressed

• He grew up in Ruhuna being named Keerthi where officer Sithnarubima Budhal Na gave royalty the protection

• In a copter plate of Panakaduwa it had that Budhal Na provided way description

• The of king Vijayabahu I effective actions were protect actions of territory in the existence

• Integrity were defined as territorial freedom country concept

• King to defeated of Chola through united movement took pain

• The king took act in Buddhist temples to renovated immediately

• He took Polonnaruwa because important to strengthened the economy as it served that international to organized transfer made the Indian regions of step

• The Trincomalee harbor was named Gokanna Thiththa as he the ruling there and a great idea was made by this king