histoy G-10 E

law is practised in Sri Lanka. It was introduced to

our country a long time later.

6.3 Finance and Exchange

Here, the exchange means the process of

interchanging with an economic purpose.

According to the information in the historical

sources, the barter system was used in economic

affairs in the most ancient era in this country.

The archaeologists believe that the circular shells

made of clay, discovered from archaeological

excavations, may have been used for exchange in

economic affairs.

The usage of coins in this country was started

in about 250 B.C. Those are a type of silver

coins brought to this country by the merchants

from the North India. The archaeologists name

them as ‘Hasebu coins’.

Various symbols were

engraved on these coins

which were round,

square and rectangular

shapes. Those coins were

brought to this country

by the merchants who

arrived here from India.

These ‘Hasebu’ coins

have been named

as ‘Kahapana’ in the

ancient inscriptions and

‘Kahawanu’ in literature.

This term derived from

the word ‘Karshapana’

in the Sanskrit language.

There is evidence that an independent coin was

produced in this country either in the last half

of the first century of B.C or in the first half

of the first century of A.D. The coin on which

the figures of an elephant and a Swastika were

engraved, which had been discovered from

archaeological excavations, is an example for

this. Afterwards, many kings had issued coins

during their ruling periods. There was a separate

officer performing the duty of moulding coins.

He was named as ‘Rupa Adyaksha (Picto-

director). This name appears in the inscriptions,

belonging to the 2nd century B.C., as ‘Rupadaka’.

Above mentioned (Fig. 6.2) is a picture of a coin

used in this country.

In the past, metal weight too was used as a value

in exchange activities in this country. A piece

of gold-metal was discovered in an excavation

at the Abhayagiri temple in Anuradhapura. On

Fig.6.3. These colourful beads were found in ancient Magama city. These relics reflect that

the women who lived in those days preferred to wear jewellery made up of such beads.