situated in the middle of the sea trade route that
connected western countries with the eastern
countries, that it became an important to the
international traders. Gems, tuskers, and spices
that Sri Lanka possessed had become attractive
commodities for them. In joining this emerging
international trade, the need of working as an
independent country arose. Therefore, the then
powerful provincial rulers had understood the
need of bringing the country into a unitary rule.
ParumakaMapurumukaParumakaParumakaParumakaParumakaParumakaKing Dutugemunu managed to establish a centralized
ruling by combining the Parumakas who were enjoying a
decentralized power.
Mahawamsa says that king Devanampiyatissa
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
Buddhism to Sri Lanka are facts that reflect
the nature of relationships maintained with the
countries in the Indian oceanic region.
King Dutugemunu was another pioneer in
the process of centralizing the decentralized
political power of Sri Lanka. The king received
the support of the Parumakas for that. Examples
to prove this can be seen in the inscriptions
belonging to his ruling period.The army generals who extended their support
to King Dutugemunu to unite the country had
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.
Several such inscriptions can be seen in the caves
in Situlpawwa. King Dutugemunu obtained the
support of such Parumakas and centralized
the power, which was decentralized so far. The
regional chieftains, who were the Parumakas
during the time when the power decentralized,
became persons who held different posts
after the power was centralized. The names of
Parumaka Pussadeva, Parumaka Velusumana,
Parumaka Therputtabhaya later became
Senapathi Parumaka Pussadeva, Senapathi
Parumaka Velusumana and Senapathi Parumaka
Teraputtabhaya. These changed names could be
seen in contemporary inscriptions.Fig. 3.3. This photograph displays some clay stamps used^
in the ancient time. There was not anything marked on
them when they were discovered. Stamps like these were
used by government officers. These three stamps were
discovered in the place where there was the old urban
hall in Tissamaharamaya.