History of Sri Lanka: From Earliest Times Up to the Sixteenth Century

Abhayagiri According administrative agricultural ancient Anuradhapura Anuradhapura period areas authority became brought Buddha Buddhist built called canals capital caste centres century A.D. Ceylon chief Cholas chronicles Colombo communities complex constructed cultivation cultural Dry Zone early Elara established evidence existence fact fish forces foreign four Gampola grant groups held Hindu important indicates influence inscription instance irrigation island Jaffna Kasyapa king kingdom known Kotte land later literature lived Mahavamsa Mahavihara means monastery monastic monks named officers original paddy Parakramabahu period political Polonnaruva port present Rajarata records refers region reign relations religious reservoirs river roads rock royal rule rulers settlements Sinhala Sinhalese social South India Sri Lanka stone suggests Tamil tanks temple tenth century term texts third thirteenth century throne tion Tissa trade various Vijayabahu village walls