Evolution of Political Power in Sri Lanka Grade 10 History Textbook PDF

3 Evolution of Political Power in Sri Lanka 3.1 Pre-state Era Introduction According to the interpretation given above, the Historical sources say that this country was found...

3 Evolution of Political Power in Sri Lanka 3.1 Pre-state Era Introduction According to the interpretation given above, the Historical sources say that this country was foundation of a state in the Sri Lankan history ruled by many kings and a few queens in the developed at a later time. It has been described in ancient time. Historical sources describe that the next parts of this lesson. Here, the attention prince Vijaya who came from India was the has been paid to explain the nature of the ruling first king who ruled this country. He arrived in system that existed in Sri Lanka before it became this country in the 6th century B.C. a state. That period is called pre-state era. The archaeological evidences have There was no one definite ruler to rule this substantiated that there had been settlements country during the pre-state period. Instead, in this country even before the arrival of a group of wealthy chieftains dominated their prince Vijaya. The ancient burial grounds power over small areas. At the beginning of discovered in the areas such as Beragala and writing inscriptions in this country these Haldummulla have proved that an agricultural chieftains were introduced in them by the name society had been in a developing state in this of ‘Parumaka’. The word ‘Parumaka’ is derived country from 2400 B.C. There must have been from the Sanskrit word ‘Pramukha’. Its meaning a certain ruling system in such a society for is ‘main’. They were given the power to rule a it to exist without any chaos. Therefore, the large or a small area based on the power they history of evolution of political power in the possessed as a result of their wealth. society of this country belonged to the period before the arrival of prince Vijaya. There is an inscription, which assists us to show The authority to rule a country is entrusted to that the Parumakas had a certain provincial a king or a queen by the people of that country. power, in Kothgalakanda in the Kandalama Whoever it is, he or she needs people’s consent area close to Dambulla. That inscription to rule a country. The history has taught us belongs to 250 B.C. A Parumaka who offered how some rulers, who ruled the country under a cave to the bikkus has been introduced as people’s dislike, did not have the ability to rule “Thota Bojaka”. Its meaning is “Theerthaya the country for a long time. As a ruler had Anubhava Karanna”. ‘Theerthaya’ means ‘the the consent of the majority of people to rule port’. The word "anubhava kirima” was used a country, the word ‘Mahasmmatha – general in ancient language to mean “collect taxes will’ had been used to introduce such a king and enjoy properties”. It can only be done in the eastern countries in the ancient time. by a person who has a ruling power. It is The ruling land reigned by a king or a queen clear that the Parumaka mentioned in the on the people’s will (Jana sammathaya) and the Kandalama inscription was one who ruled various officials who were engaged in ruling that area. Therefore, he had the ability to offer and the people is called a state. a cave to the Buddhist monks. By examining 31  Illustration No. 3.1. One among the householders in a village was appointed as the chief of the village. He was called ‘Gamika’. The activities between each village were coordinated by the Gamikas. in which there is important information how the Parumakas came into being, we can regarding that was discovered in the area called easily understand the way in which the political Periyapuliyankulama. It says that “a householder power of this country evolved. In order to who was engaged in metal trade, had cleaned understand that, the ancient rural society in this a cave and offered it to the Bhikkus for their country and its operation should be meticulously comfort”. Those householders offered themselves studied. in common activities in a village representing each family. In simple terms, the householders Householders meant chiefs of the families. At least by 900 B.C. the rural settlements of this country had spread in many areas in the The Gamikas dry zone. These villages consisted of several The ancient inscriptions as well as the families. Perhaps between 1 to 30 families lived annotations have mentioned a group of people in those villages. In the ancient time the word called ‘Gramika’ or ‘Gamika’. They were the ‘Kula’ was used to mean a family. The chief of chiefs of the ancient villages. The ancient villages all these families was called ‘Gruhapathi’. In the existed separately. A belt of jungle area separated inscriptions made in 250 B.C and later, the word one village from the other. Because of this 'Gahapathi' was used for them. An inscription separation the people who lived in each village 32 thought about the villages as ‘our village (the agreement of the householders instead of village where they live)’, neighbouring village taking decisions by all the householders in the (adjoining village) and the outside villages (the village getting together. Buddhagosha Thero villages existed far away). The one, who acted has mentioned in Samantha Pasadika that the representing each village in the affairs between Gamika was one who was appointed among the villages such as marriages, exchanging goods, as householders themselves. well as solving problems, was named as Gramika. Its meaning is the chief of the village. Providing leadership to the common activities in the village was especially important among the A chief, to represent a village, was selected tasks done by the Gamikas. Maintaining the tank among the householders. In the selection, the of the village and distribution of water from it priority may have been given to the wealth and was prominent among his tasks. It is clear that a the possessions of the householders. The Jathaka- ruling power was built around him as a result of Attakathawa tells us a story of borrowing a bag of solving problems in villages, giving leadership to paddy by a poor man, who lived in an ancient the activities and the wealth he possessed. village, from the Gamika in the same village on the promise that he would return it on the As the chiefs of those villages acted mutually following season. It reveals that Gamikas were with each other, they were able to maintain the rich enough even to help others. peace and the co-existence between the villages. An evidence to prove this was discovered in a To control a group properly, the person who cave in the area called Korawkgala belonging has won the common trust of that group should to the ancient Buddhist temple situated in provide the leadership to it. Our ancient villagers Sithulpawwa in Hambanthota district. Three had acted to appoint the richest and the most people had participated in cleaning that cave and powerful person as the chief of the village in the offering it to the Bhikkus; they were Gamika Siva, Gamika Sumana, and Gamika Thidana. These three people must have been the chiefs of the Map. 3.1. The tanks in the villages were connected neighbouring villages adjacent to Sithulpawwa. through canals in order to widen the use of small tanks which obtained rain water. The word ‘prolapsed-tanks’ is The origin of such chiefs of villages was a decisive used to introduce that kind of a tank-system. The people milestone in developing the political power of in the dry zone of Sri Lanka use the word ‘Ellangawa’ to this country. name it. This map shows that kind of a ‘prolapsed tank existed in Hambantota district. The Parumakas We mentioned earlier that a group of chieftains called Parumakas was important regarding the development of the political power in the society of this country in the ancient time. Here, it is important to find how such kind of a class of chieftains emerged and how power was claimed by them. The notion of all the scholars, who have studied about this fact, is that there was a relationship between the emergence of the chieftains and the maintenance of ancient tanks. Certainly, how 33  did that happen? was essential for them. Our ancient villagers, In about 900 B.C. the settlements spread in the who faced such difficulties a number of times, dry zone mainly around small tanks. These tanks followed a successful method to address those received water from rain. Normally, the water challenges: they constructed a system of tanks in those tanks was enough for 10 or 15 families by connecting a few tanks, which existed closely, who lived in a village for their day-to-day needs through canals. There were two objectives in it; the for a short time period. In annual dry seasons first one was conserving water by carrying water the water in those tanks ran dry. We can say that to a tank situated below from a tank situated up the people might have faced difficulties in such when it overflowed during the rainy season; the times by the experiences faced at present by the second was increasing the dampness of either side people of the dry zone. of the land of a canal by sending water constantly through the canal between the two tanks. They The problem of not having adequate rain water were able to cultivate crops easily by increasing collected in the tanks arose not only due to the the dampness in such a manner. Even today the dry climatic condition. With the passing of time ruins of such tank systems could be seen in the dry more water was needed due to the increase of zone. The word ‘prolapsed tanks’ is used to name population in villages. Since they had to cultivate such kind of a tank system. People in the dry zone more lands in order to produce more food for call it ‘Ellangawa’. The origin of tank – systems was the increasing population, collecting more water not merely a process of connecting a few tanks; Fig. 3.1. The Ibbankatuwa burial ground (cemetery) in Dambulla was used between 700 and 450 B.C. The burial grounds like these were used by the influential people like the Parumakas. 34 something important was happening behind it. chieftains in the then society. Earlier we mentioned that the villages were Even today ruins of hundreds of such tank – situated separately in the dry zone. Further, we systems could be seen in the plains in the dry said that there was a tank in each and every zone. It is clear that there was a Parumaka for village. In constructing tank systems they each tank – system during the time they were connected such independent tanks with each used. There is information on hundreds of such other according to the contour lines of water Parumakas in inscriptions. Not only men, but flowing. Therefore, it was natural for the chiefs also women too were engaged in provincial of the villages to discuss and there emerged the administration on some occasions. Such women need of taking important decisions regarding were called in the name of ‘Parumakalu’. As a connecting tanks in their villages. When the whole, all of them were people who ruled the most ancient inscriptions are read meticulously, small land units in the areas where settlement it can be seen that the most powerful person had spread in the dry zone. Accordingly, the among the Gamikas had acted to represent all evolution of political power in Sri Lanka started villages of the tank – system. This person was as a divided system. The best word that can be called by the name of ‘Parumaka’. Since the used to name such a method is ‘decentralized Parumakas had the power to take decisions on ruling’. behalf of the welfare of the people who lived in several villages belonging to the tank- system, they were considered to be a group of important Illustration 3.2 The chiefs of the Gamikas were called Parumakas. They had the right to collect taxes. The Parumakas symbolize an important beginning of developing the political power in a later time. 35  (oriental)’. There is another note about such another provincial king named ‘Duhathara Raja’ in a cave in the ancient Buddhist temple called Yatahalena in Kegalle. The word ‘king’ gives the meaning of ‘one who makes others happy’. Therefore, the word ‘king’ is used to refer to ‘one who works for the people’s welfare diligently and make them happy. As the Parumakas acted in such a manner, later they were named thus. The origin of a generation of brave kings, who ruled Sri Lanka, occurred in such a background. Growth of Kingship The growth of kingship means centralizing the power which was decentralized. Centralizing political power in a country means a country being united. This means that power comes under one person. When the power is centralized, the concept of state is created. Its ruling head is the king and he has a specific territory under his ruling. According to historical sources, the first king who ruled this country was King Pandukabhaya. According to the description given in Mahawamsa, king Pandukabhaya, 1. ascended to kingship by fighting several Fig 3.2. This necklace which was discovered in the Ibbankatuwa burial ground belonged to the period provincial rulers (his uncles) and captured those between 700 and 450 B.C. This is a bead necklace and areas. some of the beads in this were imported ones. The luxury 2. selected Anuradhapura as his ruling centre of the growing rich Parumakas is reflected by this. and built up the city of Anuradhapura. In this manner, the Prumakas who exercised 3. marked the rural borders during his tenth year the provincial ruling in this country were so after the accession to kingship. powerful that sometimes they went to the extent of introducing themselves in the term of ‘King’. The need of centralizing the political power was An ancient inscription in the area called Embul gradually emerging by the ruling period of king Ambe in Matale district mentions a provincial Devanampiyatissa. One of the main reasons that ruler called Pochani Raja which means 'the king influenced this was the trade affairs growing in of the eastern region'. Pochani means ‘Pracheena the Indian Ocean. It was not only because of the geographical location of Sri Lanka, which was 36 situated in the middle of the sea trade route that King Dutugemunu was another pioneer in connected western countries with the eastern the process of centralizing the decentralized countries, that it became an important to the political power of Sri Lanka. The king received international traders. Gems, tuskers, and spices the support of the Parumakas for that. Examples that Sri Lanka possessed had become attractive to prove this can be seen in the inscriptions commodities for them. In joining this emerging belonging to his ruling period. international trade, the need of working as an independent country arose. Therefore, the then The army generals who extended their support powerful provincial rulers had understood the to King Dutugemunu to unite the country had need of bringing the country into a unitary rule. worked as Parumakas before they were given the above mentioned posts. The names of the army generals such as Velusumana, Pussadeva, Theraputtabhaya, and Nandimithra were mentioned in the inscriptions as Parumakas. Parumaka Several such inscriptions can be seen in the caves in Situlpawwa. King Dutugemunu obtained the Parumaka Parumaka support of such Parumakas and centralized Mapurumuka the power, which was decentralized so far. The Parumaka Parumaka regional chieftains, who were the Parumakas during the time when the power decentralized, became persons who held different posts Parumaka after the power was centralized. The names of Parumaka Pussadeva, Parumaka Velusumana, King Dutugemunu managed to establish a centralized Parumaka Therputtabhaya later became ruling by combining the Parumakas who were enjoying a decentralized power. Senapathi Parumaka Pussadeva, Senapathi Parumaka Velusumana and Senapathi Parumaka Teraputtabhaya. These changed names could be Mahawamsa says that king Devanampiyatissa seen in contemporary inscriptions. had invited the Kshasthriyan (the clan of trade)in Katharagama and Chandanagama to participate in the ceremony of planting the Sri Maha Bodhi. Not only that, we know the king took steps to plant a branch of Sri Maha Bodhi in various parts of the country. By this act it becomes clear that the king had thought of the need of building affability among the regional rulers. Holding coronation of King Devanampiyatissa again by using the five insignia of royalty sent by the powerful emperor king Ashoka who ruled India and using the title ‘Devanampiya’ of emperor Ashoka, arrival of Mihindu thero bringing Fig. 3.3. This photograph displays some clay stamps used Buddhism to Sri Lanka are facts that reflect in the ancient time. There was not anything marked on the nature of relationships maintained with the them when they were discovered. Stamps like these were countries in the Indian oceanic region. used by government officers. These three stamps were discovered in the place where there was the old urban hall in Tissamaharamaya. 37  Further, the inscriptions provide us information Sri Lanka could stand as an independent country about the treasurers, cashiers, and storehouse before the world because of its centralized keepers who held the post of Parumaka earlier. political power. According to literary sources, King Dutugemunu was the first king to unite the whole country. King Dutugemunu took a very effective step to centralize the power in ancient Sri Lanka. Historical sources say that a Sri Lankan ambassador had been to Rome and brought glass beads with him when he returned during the ruling time of king Bhathikabhaya. King Wasabha made the centralization of the political power more successful. During his time Sri Lanka was ruled as one unit. The inscriptions established by king Wasabha had spread in a wide area in this country. Further, separating administrative districts (asthana) and appointing ministers to administer each district too were done during his ruling time. It has been written in the golden plate, ‘Wallipuram’ that the Jaffna area was ruled by a minister named Srishigiri appointed by the king in his time. During that time Jaffna peninsula was known as Nagadeepaya (Nakadiva). Fig 3.5. The statue of King Bhathikabhaya, who performed a great Pooja to Ruwanweliseya. This statue can be seen in the premises of Ruwanweliseya even today. 3.2 The Concept of State The king, created by the centralized political power, is an extremely powerful person. Therefore, the king had appeared before the people in a majestic form. The rulers thought their duty was developing the country economically, providing security to the countrymen, and Fig. 3.4. A clay stamp discovered in the place where the enhancing spiritual development of the people. ancient Magama city was located in Tissamaharama. Several symbols used by the then royals in Ruhunu are Providing security on the occasions of threats marked here. from foreign enemies, developing the economy by constructing irrigation and enhancing people’s spirituality by building religious places 38 were some examples. The history provides word belongs to the Sanskrit language and in evidence to prove how even kings such as Elara Sinhala it is used as ‘Sakvithi’. Some rulers in and Nisshankamalla, who had foreign origin, this country had used this word to show their acted in the above described way and won the identity in the 8th and 9th centuries A.D. Specially, trust of the people. king Nishshankamalla used the line “Kalinga Chakrawarthi Swaminwahanse” to introduce Different concepts about kingship developed himself in his inscriptions. according to the actions of the king and the way that they attempted to appear. Accordingly, Though there were various terms about the concepts like Devathwa, Bodhisathwa, kingship, all of those concepts were used to show Parvatharaja, Veerathwa, and Chakravarthi were the superiority of the king. When such type applied to the kings. of nobleness is applied to the ruler, the people expected him to be exemplary. It is natural for Most frequently the king appeared either as a him to be persuaded to act as that. That is how Bodhisathwa or as a god. The king Kutakanna the conceptual background was created, which is Abhaya, who made the inscription in a rock in essential for a righteous ruling. Dambulla temple, has introduced him by the name of ‘Nareshvara’ (Naraisera). Its meaning is Inheritance of Kingship god Eeshwara for humans. When we study how the kingship was inherited King Mahasen was worshipped as God of in ancient Sri Lanka, it seems it passed from Minneri due to his service of developing the brother to brother or from father to son. economy by constructing irrigation works. Even today there are Devalas in the dry zone dedicated After the demise of king Devanampiyatissa, his for God Mahasen. brothers ascended to the kingship. After king Dutugemunu, his brother Saddhatissa became King Kashayapa I appeared as Kuwera. The name the king. When the kingship was given to a ‘Alakapaya Maha Raja’ had been used to call brother, the eldest among the younger brothers him. The meaning of it is ‘Alakamandadhipathi – of the king was given power. When it was not so, Maha Raja’. ‘Alakamanda’ is the living place of the history provides evidence to the fact that there god ‘Kuwera’ who is in charge of wealth. Literary were conflicts for the kingship. sources say that ‘Alakamanda’ was a huge rock. The rulers in ancient Asia followed the method What was frequent was passing the kingship of appearing in the concept of ‘Parvatharaja’. from father to son. After king Kawantissa, prince Dutugemunu became the king; after king The king, appearing as a Bodhisathwa was Vasabha, his son prince Vankanasikatissa became another instance. The king showed, on one hand, the king. In this way passing kingship from father that he was bound with responsibility to rule the to son can be seen throughout the history of Sri country in a just and fair manner for the benefit Lanka. Either king’s elder son or the consort’s of the people and, on the other hand, it reflected elder son became the heir. There are evidences that the people should trust and respect the king. that there were conflicts when it was not so. We know that king Kashyapa usurped the kingship Another view that the kings of this country from his father, king Dhathusena. The king had held was the concept of ‘Chakrawarthi’. to do so because prince Mugalan, who was the Chakrawarthi is a concept which conveys the son of then king’s consort, was the real heir to meaning of ‘dominating the whole world’. That the throne. The mother of prince Kashyapa was 39  a second queen of king Dhathusena. Apart from Architect of the city (Nagara Wudika) this, there were occasions when the kingship + went to the brother of the king’s consort and Officer in charge of the horses (Asa Adeka) the son of the king’s sister. It happened so when + there was no real heir as described above. Officer in charge of tuskers (Hathi Adeka) + Officer in charge of dramas (Nata Adeka) Statecraft + Officer in charge of making coins (Rupa Adeka) During the time when the political power was + decentralized many of the Parumakas were Officer in charge of trades (Pana Adeka) combined together and built the state. The king + acted as the head of all the Parumakas. Therefore, Officer in charge of archives (Kanapedika) the word ‘Mahaparumaka’ or ‘Mapurumuka’ was used to name the king. We earlier mentioned how some powerful Parumakas used the name This kind of official structure provided a good ‘king’ before the power was centralized. But, assistance to the administration of the country. after the centralization of political power in the Common people were ones who benefited much country, the word ‘Maha Raja’ was used to name from this. the ruler of the country. 3.3. Great Kings Who Ruled This Country By referring to the most ancient inscriptions of this country, we can fairly understand the From the facts discussed so far, you must structure of the officials, who belonged to the have understood how the development of the state administration which developed after the political power in Sri Lanka was influenced centralization of the power in Sri Lanka. by a socio – economic process. Specially, the rulers who, had understood that they needed The king – Maha Raja (Mapurumuka) an efficient centralized ruling more than a decentralized one if they wanted to gain the due Chief Minister – Maha Emathi benefits from international trade affairs afoot in (Mahamatha) the Indian Ocean during the latter part of the 1st century B.C, took necessary steps for that. Ministers – Emathiwaru (Ametha)+ In this part it is expected to discuss the policies Commanders (Shenapathi) and contributions of the rulers who ruled this country, in parallel to the development of Treasurer – Bhandagarika (Badagarika) political power in Sri Lanka, citing several kings as examples. Officer in charge of the Dining Hall – (Bathagu) King Dutugemunu Officer in charge of customs King Dutugemunu, who is highlighted in the –(Kothuruge na) historical sources, was a ruler who rendered a great service to organize the political power in Administrator of the city this country properly. The king understood the -(Nagaragutika) need of saving Mathota international harbour, which earned a good income because of the 40 trade affairs which was prospering in the Indian King Vasabha Ocean during his time, from the then king Elara who had usurped the power in Anuradhapura King Vasabha, who was the first ruler of the lineage and uniting the country. The way that prince (dynasty) of Lambhakarna, was a prominent Dutugemunu acted for that purpose according to character among the rulers of this country. The the advice and the plans of King Kavantissa, his procedure that the king followed to regulate father, was a landmark in the political history of and to organize the internal administration of this country. Prince Dutugemunu was the first to the country properly was exemplary. There are provide leadership to the first organized fighting a number of inscriptions that he has established movement in the history of this country. The around the country. According to the information statement that he made about his fight against in them, the king tried to divide the country King Elara, which he would do, not because that into provinces and regulate the administration. he wanted to enjoy comforts and the facilities of a And also, inscriptions say that the process of king but because for the benefit of the Buddhism collecting taxes of the state was made systematic clearly shows how the ruler entered to the during the king’s time. political process based on a common purpose on behalf of the country. After the battle, the king The details of the historical sources reveal that ordered his subjects to respect his defeated rival’s King Vasabha pioneered in constructing large tomb, which shows his statesmanship. scale tanks in this country for the first time. The Wamsakatha (chronicles) say that the king had As we have explained in the part ‘growth of constructed sixteen large scale tanks. The king kingship’ of this lesson, the most important tended to execute such kind of construction as contribution that King Dutugemunu made to there was a great demand for the grains produced the process of development of political power in this country in South India because there was in this country was managing to combine the a dearth of food in the valley of Krishna river Parumakas who had possessed the decentralized in South India. The immediate decision king provincial power by then. At the end he Vasabha took to invest the public money on possessed a great power after being anointed as constructing new reservoirs can be analyzed as a the king (Maha Raja) of the country. Though he far-sighted and a productive decision to address was so powerful, his redressing attitudes towards an international and regional need emerged at the people reflect that he could realize his prime the time. responsibility which was to work for the welfare of the people. The best example for this is that The way that king Vasabha acted to reconstruct during the construction period of Ruwanweli the Buddhist temples and Stupas in this country Stupa the king ordered to run alms halls (Dan is not second to any other ruler’s task. A number Sel) at the four gates of the Stupa and make of inscriptions mention the financial support the payments for everyone who had participated king provided to reconstruct the decayed places in its construction works. King Dutugemunu in Buddhist temples and to supply facilities to should be admired not merely for his service the Bhikkus. to Buddhism of this country. Taking initiatives to organize the decentralized political power in We should understand that the decisions that the Sri Lanka is also a prominent feature among his king made to make the lives of the people better tasks. in the country by taking steps needed to increase the local income and using the income earned in that manner to develop the irrigation of the country are exemplary. 41  King Vijayabahu I in a way in which maintaining the relationships with Eastern region of India could take place King Vijayabahu I is another prominent and a easily. Though ex-rulers had paid their attention great ruler who belongs to the history of this on this before, king Vijayabahu I was the one country. The king acted to suppress the power who acted practically regarding the matter. of Chola through a war movement planned in a One of the main reasons that appear to have very intelligent manner during a period in which affected to select Polonnaruwa as the ruling Sri Lanka was under the Chola ruling for a long centre was the Trincomalee harbour, which was time after the growth of power of the Chola kings named Gokanna Thiththa during that period, in South India. was located facing the Eastern part of the South Indian ocean and he understood that controlling The King was called Keerthi in his childhood of the trade affairs of that harbour could be done and grew in Ruhuna area. The royal family easily from the Polonnaruwa ruling centre. including prince Keerthi and his parents were given protection by a public officer who lived The way king Vijayabahu I acted as a ruler in Ruhuna. He was Sithnarubima Budhal Na by influenced much on the history of Sri Lanka name. He was a security officer. An interesting during the Polonnaruwa period. The sovereignty description of the way that Budhal Na provided of this country, which was preserved until it was protection to the royal family is included in the threatened by the Europeans, was a result of the Panakaduwa copper plate which had been got intelligence and great ideas of the rulers of that written by king Vijayabahu I. time. All the steps taken by king Vijayabahu I to act against the powerful Chola kings was an effective fruitful procedure followed to protect Activity 1 the existence of the whole territory in the country. The concepts of freedom of territory in Describe the persons who were introduced any country and continuity are called territorial by the names given below. integrity. The protection of the territorial integrity of a country by a ruler is a prime responsibility of 1.Gruhapathi him for the citizens. 2. Gamika 3. Parumaka 4. Raja The king, who united the country by defeating the Chola rulers through a fighting movement, took much pain to develop the country. He acted immediately to renovate the Buddhist temples which were not maintained properly during the Activity 2 period of the Chola ruling. The king took a very important step to strengthen the economy of the Write a short description about the country; that is, making Polonnaruwa his ruling prominent kings who ruled the country during centre instead of Anuradhapura. The king took Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods. such a step because the international trade based on the Western areas of India by then had been transferred to the Eastern Indian region. With that transferring, what was very important for Sri Lanka was to organize the administration 42 Important Facts  At the early stages the political power in  In running the rule of the country, the rulers Sri Lanka was in a decentralized nature. The appeared in different types of concepts. Most of chieftains who were powerful provincially the time they attempted to appear as a god. handled the ruling power.  Those who were engaged in ruling affairs at the village level were called Gamikas and those who ruled a wide area consisted of several villages Pancha Kakudha Bhanda – Pancha Kakudha Bhanda means were named as Parumakas. Gamikas represented the five items which are considered to provide prosperity when the householders who were in charge of several they are used. The Walvidunava, Mirivedi Sangala (a pair of houses in a village. The word Gahapathi was slippers), Magul Kaduva (king’s sword), Sesatha (Parasol), used to name them. Nalal Patiya (the strap tied on the forehead) belong to it. Kings used them in their coronations. Mahawamsa says that  A political body is needed to control power king Devanampiyatissa held his second coronation using the which is necessary to handle the conflicts and Pancha Kakudha Bhanda sent by emperor Ashoka. other complexities in a society, which are caused due to the facts such as life competition caused The title Devanapiya – Indian emperor Ashoka used the by emergence of various social requirements title Devanapiya (Devanampriya) meant ‘adorable to God’. in line with development of settlements. The King Tissa, who ruled this country in the contemporary political power in the ancient society of Sri period of emperor Ashoka, used this title and called himself Lanka developed based on such needs. Devanampiyatissa.  The process of centralizing the political Alakamandava – Literary texts describe that Alakamandava is power, which had been decentralized in this the dwelling place of the ‘Kuvera’ who is in charge of wealth. country, was initiated by king Dutugemunu. Accordingly, it is one of the prosperous cities which belongs to That task, initiated by king Dutugemunu for a the island ‘Uthurukuru’ where gods live. political purpose for the first in the history of this country, was accomplished by King Vasabha, who was a member of the Lambhakarna lineage.  Centralizing the power means the ruling power of the country goes to one hand of one ruler. There a group of officers are appointed to run the administration of the country. The word state is used to name the king, the officers, the rules and regulations imposed by them and the institutions which put them into practice. 43