stones were used to colour their skin. It reveals
that women, who lived three thousand years
ago spent their time to increase their beauty.
Many factors related to women’s jewellery have
been discovered in archaeological excavations.
There is a grave, which belonged to the time
period between 700 -450 B.C., in Ibbankatuwa
close to Dambulla. An attractive necklace was
discovered in excavating it. Some beads in that
necklace have been imported from India.
The women, who lived in this country in ancient
time, were respected as a sister and a mother by
the society. There is no evidence to prove that she
had lived a depressed life under one’s oppression
or suppression. Since the ancient time our society
respected the freedom of women.
6.5 Local Food
From ancient time the people of this country
consumed things which grew in the country.
Evidence has been discovered on wild breadfruit
and Atikesel which were consumed by the pre-
historic people who lived in the Beligala cave
10500 years ago.
In the historical era paddy and Kurakkan were
profusely used for food. Apart from these, Undu,
green gram (Mun), sesame (Thala), marrow
(Mae), Amu, Menari, Kongu, Waru, Yawa were
also eaten. The historical books of Sri Lanka
mention seven types of grain, which were used
as food by ancient people. They are namely Sali,
Veehi, Kedesa, Varaka, Kangu, Duma and Yawa.
The Thonigala inscription, made by king Keerthi
Sri Meghavarnabhaya (301 -328 A.D.), mentions
Paddy, Undu, Mun (green gram) and Thala
(sesame). Saddharmarathnawaliya mentions
that the meat of peacock cooked in ghee and El
rice (El Hal) was one of the most favourite foods
among the chieftains in Sri Lanka in the 12th
century A.D.Pala Maluwa and Kadi Embula with Niwudu rice
was a most frequent meal of poor people in that
time. Kady Embula is made of stale rice powder.
Ancient Sri Lankans had a habit of drinking
various types of gruels (Kenda). The words ‘Yagu’
or ‘Hambu’ had been used in old books, instead
of the word ‘Kenda (gruel)’.A food named ‘Athsunu’ made of fried grain
powder had been mentioned in old books.
‘Thala (sesame)’ was eaten as a dessert. The
Thonigala inscription mentions that one had
offered ‘Thala (sesame)’ as a dessert to a Bhikku.
Dampiyaatuwagatapadaya mentions a food
named ‘Thila Sangulika’. This may be ‘Thala Guli’
(sweet balls made of sesame mixed with treacle
or sugar with pieces of juggery).In addition to different types of grain, various
kinds of yams had a significant place among
food in the ancient time. Old books mention
kinds of yams such as Wel Ala, Kukulala, Katu
Ala, Kondola, Bathala (sweet potato). The word
‘Sondala’ can be seen in Saddharmalankaraya.There were Wetakolu, Thampala, Weraniya Dalu,
Kara Kola, Lunuwila Kola, Labu (pumpkin),
Puhul (pumpkin), Karabatu, Kekiri (melon),
Thibbatu, Nelambu Ala, Murunga (drumsticks),
among the vegetables used then. There is a
description in Saddharmarathnawaliya as “Labu,
Puhul, Sondala, Wetakolu, aadi wu siyaluma liya