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113992242-Dravidian-Settlements-in-Ceylon-and-the-Beginnings-of-the-Kingdom-of-Jaffna-By-Karthigesu-Indrapala-Complete-Phd-Thesis-University-of-London-1965

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237<br />

For nearly seven decades this part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> became an<br />

arena for <strong>the</strong> contest for power among different foreign contenders,<br />

chiefly }gha <strong>and</strong> his associates, <strong>the</strong> Pyas <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jvakas,<br />

until at last <strong>the</strong> P4yas settled <strong>the</strong> contest to <strong>the</strong>ir advantaEe<br />

<strong>and</strong> paved <strong>the</strong> way for <strong>the</strong> rise <strong>of</strong> a dynasty from <strong>the</strong> Tamil<br />

country <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> newly founded k<strong>in</strong>gdom <strong>of</strong> that region. While <strong>the</strong>se<br />

events <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> made <strong>the</strong> situation favourable for <strong>the</strong><br />

settlement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> South Indians <strong>in</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn <strong>Ceylon</strong>, events <strong>in</strong><br />

South India soon provided some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> causes for <strong>the</strong> migration<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se people. The downfall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> C1as <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> thirteenth century <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pyas at <strong>the</strong><br />

turn <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> century were followed by <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>vasions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Muslims. The result<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>security <strong>and</strong> disorders seem to have led<br />

several Tamils to migrate to <strong>Ceylon</strong> where <strong>the</strong>y found a welcome<br />

h<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> South Indian dynasty that had established itself<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>Jaffna</strong>. The rulers <strong>of</strong> this dynasty a pear not only to have<br />

Lvc.<br />

welcomed such migrants but al6o3en to <strong>the</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g<br />

settlers to <strong>the</strong> new k<strong>in</strong>gdom. The thirteenth <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> early part<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fourteenth century were, <strong>the</strong>refore, a period <strong>of</strong> Tamil<br />

immigration for <strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> settlement. All <strong>the</strong>se were set<br />

<strong>in</strong> motion by <strong>the</strong> events that took place between 1196 <strong>and</strong> 1215,<br />

es ecially <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>vasion <strong>of</strong> Igha which may justifiably be<br />

called a l<strong>and</strong>-mark <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tamils <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ceylon</strong>.

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