Further, the inscriptions provide us information
about the treasurers, cashiers, and storehouse
keepers who held the post of Parumaka earlier.
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. 3.4. A clay stamp discovered in the place where the
ancient Magama city was located in Tissamaharama.
Several symbols used by the then royals in Ruhunu are
marked here.
Sri Lanka could stand as an independent country
before the world because of its centralized
political power.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
enhancing spiritual development of the people.Providing security on the occasions of threats
from foreign enemies, developing the economy
by constructing irrigation and enhancing
people’s spirituality by building religious places