NO. 43.-1892.] SIRIVADDHANAPURA. 



215 



But even here Mr. Wickremasinghe does not leave us to 

 conjecture ; for the same passage of the Kalundd-patund 

 says that Nanbambaraya was adorned, not only by the 

 king's palace, but by his queen, Sirivaddhana Bisava, " Queen 

 Sirivaddhana ! " 



Thus, not only is the place, with the highest degree of 

 probability, identified, but a romantic light is thrown upon 

 its origin, while the king's selection of it for honour, and the 

 enthusiasm with which the historian describes it, are abun- 

 dantly explained. We know not which more to admire, the 

 faithfulness of our ancient historian or the ingenuity of his 

 modern interpreters. 



4. The President (the Lord Bishop) then referred to the 

 following letter from Mr. Henry Parker, which appeared 

 in the Ceylon Literary Register of July 12, 1892, vol. VI., 

 No. 50, p. 396 :— 



When an opportunity occurs, I hope to go in search of the site of 

 the ancient city of Siriivardhanapura, which is well known in parts of 

 this district to have existed in what is now a tract of dense forest on 

 the right bank of the Deduru-oya, in the Wanni Hatpattu. I have 

 obtained a manuscript which gives the boundaries of the lands attached 

 to this city, so there can be no doubt regarding the matter. There are 

 vague accounts of bricks and pillars having been seen in the forest, by 

 hunters ; but nothing more definite seems to be known, there being no 

 inhabitants in the neighbourhood. Siriivardhanapura has previously 

 been supposed to be Kandy, an error which I think Mr. Pohath first 

 pointed out in the Literary Register. 



5. His Lordship next read the following remarks 

 on his Paper, contributed by Mr. H. Nevill, M.R.A.S., 

 F.Z.S., viz. : — 



SlRIVADDHANA-PURA. 



I DO not think that the identification of this town can be 

 so summarily accepted. The history of its period is full of 

 strange contradictions, and it is possible that many books 

 alluding to the subject were mutilated or suppressed. 



As regards addha or attha, I must point out that 

 Mr. Pohath's interesting note is not supported by any critical 

 investigation on record.* How many MSS., and of what age, 



* See first paragraph of Mr. W. P. Ranesinpfhe's remarks, infra, p. 218. — 

 B., Hon. Sec. 



