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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIX. 



removing it to its final bed. In the case mentioned by Mr. Lewis 

 all that is missing seems to be the covering stones. The u shape 

 is due to the fact that all outlet culverts of big tanks had double 

 channels. 



The Discussion. 



14. The President, at the closing of the reading, said it 

 would be of interest to have the subject discussed. 



15. Mr. C. M. Fernando thought it would be a poor compliment 

 to Mr. Lewis should there be no discussion on so interesting a 

 Paper. Mr. Lewis seemed to hesitate between the two theories, 

 as to whether Nuwara-gala was a hermit's abode or a military 

 outpost. Mr. Fernando saw no reason why both these theories 

 should not be correct Judging from the fact referred to in the 

 Paper that the Rock commanded the road to Polonnaruwa, it 

 seems to have been used as a military outpost in the time of 

 Parakrama the Great, who is celebrated for his military forti- 

 fications. He reigned 1,000 years subsequent to Dutthagamini. 



16. Mr. E. W. Perera said : A good deal of light may be thrown 

 on the history and origin of Nuwara-gala by a reference to some of 

 the lesser known chronicles of Ceylon , such as the Thupawansa and 

 Dhdtuivansa. Both these chronicles contain valuable informa- 

 tion about the settlement of the southern and south-eastern 

 districts of the Island not contained in the Mahawansa. The 

 Dhdtuwansa, probably founded on an old Pali work, gives an 

 account of the settlement of the district round Batticaloa and the 

 names of the princes who founded cities and vihares in those 

 parts. It deals with the period circa 200-100 B.C., and includes 

 the reign of Kawantissa with references to the early youth of 

 Dutugemunu. Pridham has given a brief resume of this chronicle 

 in his work on Ceylon. The Mahaivansa too proves that the 

 Batticaloa District was one of the earliest and most flourishing 

 Sinhalese settlements, with its capital of Digamadulla identified 

 by Turnour as Digavewa. (Mahawansa, chapters IX., XXIV., 

 XXXII., XXXIII.) He was inclined to think that Nuwara-gala 

 was an early stronghold belonging to the period of the wars of 

 Elala and Dutugemunu. 



17. The President said that the discussion opened up some 

 interesting points which might well be the occasion for further 

 inquiry and investigation. They were all apt, he thought, to 

 overlook and forget the great importance of the Eastern division 

 of Ceylon in ancient times: how, for instance, the town of 

 Bintenna is older even than Anuradhapura, while Ptolemy gave 

 it as the capital of Taprobane beside the great river Mahaveli- 

 ganga. It is possible, too, that in early days the Mahaveli-ganga, 

 before it divided into two branches, forty miles from the sea, may 

 have been navigable far inland. Governor Wilmot Horton had 

 it examined and reported on for navigation, and it was considered 

 that for 80 miles to Kalinga it could be made navigable. Valentyn 

 states that so late as 1700 the kings of Kandy had ship and boat 



