SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This study attempts to trace and examine the economic conditions of Ceylon during the period c. A.D. 1070 to 1344. The geographical area of the new capitals that were chosen by the Sinhalese kings after the abandonment of Polonnaruwa as the seat of authority resulted in some changes in the economic pattern and organization of the Sinhalese kingdom. By examining the nature of such changes where relevant, the author has primarily attempted to delineate the main features of economic organization of the Polonnaruwa period and the immediately following period which saw the gradual decline of the Rajarata reservoir system. The introductory chapter outlines the political history of the period and examines the social framework of the Sinhalese. Chapter II analyses the patterns of land tenure and includes a close examination of the popularly accepted view that the king was the sole owner of land. This is followed by a chapter on irrigation which attempts to survey certain problems such as labour organization for irrigation works and methods of distribution of water. The fourth chapter outlines the agricultural practices of the Island. In this chapter an attempt is also made to estimate the area of paddy cultivation in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The nature of the internal trade and monetary transactions are being dealt with in the next chapter, while the sixth chapter is devoted mainly to foreign trade. The last chapter examines the revenue terms and principles and methods of taxation, and the conclusion brings out the main results of this study.